Solent Future Transport Zone: latest updates on MaaS, bikes and scooters

Try out the bikes and e-scooters and get a hands-on demo of the MaaS app in action at the Future Transport Forum, Portsmouth, 14-15 September

The Solent Future Transport Zone (Solent FTZ) is one of four areas across the UK chosen and funded by the DfT to trial new and better ways of providing public transport and logistics. The aim is to help make journeys easier, smarter and greener for everyone.

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Meet the Solent FTZ team, the DfT and speakers from the three FTZ zones in England at the Future Transport Forum, Portsmouth, 14-15 September

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As these tests and trials take place, Solent Transport is carring out research, collect data and feedback to understand how much these innovations are improving local transport options and the way people travel. This will help find better ways for people and goods to travel around the Solent region.

The latest report from Solent Transport highlights the latest updates for each of the projects.

Breeze: a new travel super app

A new travel super app called Breeze is being developed for the Solent region. It’s a revolutionary new way to plan, book and pay for your journeys across all transport types including buses, trains, cycling, walking routes, driving, car clubs, e-scooters and much more.

Breeze makes it possible to travel around the Solent region using just one app.

It will be possible to rent e-scooters, buy and scan tickets for trains, buses or ferries, and even rent cars from car clubs.

Breeze will be available to download from the Apple and Google Play stores. The app is being developed by experts, Trafi and Unicard.

• More than 14 mobility providers are being added into the app.

• We have secured a licence and accreditation from the Rail Delivery Group to retail rail tickets.

• A beta version is being tested and has been downloaded nearly 1,000 times.

• The universities of Portsmouth and Southampton have been carrying out cutting-edge research into the benefits and opportunities this concept creates.

Bike/e-bike hire

Bike scheme has been approved by three councils: the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth City and Southampton City councils.

• Beryl chosen as the company that will be supplying the bikes, starting with an initial pool of bikes and building up to a fleet of over 1000 across the Solent region by spring next year. The number of bikes will be increased in phases as the location of parking racks and bays are agreed.
• Once the scheme is fully rolled out, We aim to ensure that 90% of the population in the operating area will live within a five-minute walk of a hire bike.

• Beryl averages 95% parking compliance across all its UK schemes.

E-scooter trials

Three trials of rental e-scooters continue to run successfully on the Isle of Wight, in Portsmouth and in Southampton. E-scooters have been on the Isle of Wight since November 2020 and in Portsmouth and Southampton since March 2021. Currently there are:

• All three trial areas have been extended until November 2022.

• More parking racks have been installed in Portsmouth m

• New virtual parking bays added in Southampton.

• A research study on the trials has helped to improve incident reporting and safety.

About Solent FTZ

The Solent FTZ has been awarded £28.8m from the DfT to run a range of innovative tests and trials over the next few years. Throughout these trials we’ll be working with transport experts and local organisations like councils, hospitals, transport operators, businesses and universities.

As these tests and trials take place, we’ll carry out research, collect data and feedback to understand how much these innovations are improving local transport options and the way people travel. This will help find better ways for people and goods to travel around the Solent region.

This report gives you the latest updates for each of the projects.