E-scooter parking in city set for £3.5m investment

At least £3.5m will be invested in improving parking for e-scooters and e-bikes in a city over the next few years, an operator has announced.

Voi, which has operated in Oxford since 2021, said the Oxford Parking Fund is aimed at keeping the city's streets "safer and tidier for everyone".

The company works closely with Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and local communities and has already invested £1.65m in measures to boost parking compliance.

The shared transport scheme in the city has previously faced criticism because of parked e-scooters blocking pavements.

Voi says the measures in Oxford will include rolling out a team of street patrollers focusing on known hotspots and busy locations, collaborating with the council on a carriageway parking trial to free up narrow pavements and introducing tighter parking controls for users "who repeatedly park irresponsibly".

Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East, joined Voi in Headington to discuss concerns reported by her constituents.

The Labour MP said she welcomed the investment and hopes it delivers "much-needed change".

"I will continue to work with local residents, local Councils and Voi to push for these improvements to be delivered and for our streets to be safe for everyone," she added.

Harry Foskin, Voi's senior public policy manager, said: "We know we can always do more to make our service work better for everyone.

"By putting millions of pounds into parking improvements over the coming years, we want to show that shared micro-mobility can cut congestion and pollution while coexisting seamlessly with pedestrians, local residents and other road users."

Voi saw its busiest year to date in 2025, with figures showing riders in Oxford made 1.5m trips, compared to 1.2m in 2024.