The only e-scooters that can legally be used on public land in Bristol and Bath will hit the streets in a trial this week.

Voi Technologies has answered questions about the speed and capability of its distinctive red vehicles.

Metro mayor Tim Bowles has promised a cautious start to the West of England's delayed trial after issues elsewhere, with Coventry's test run ending after just five days.

E-scooters are being seen as a key way of cutting emissions by getting people out of their cars, particularly with short trips and commuting, and the Government recently announced they wanted to see them gradually legalised nationally.

Who are Voi?

A Swedish "micromobility" company operating in 50 cities in 11 countries that is currently growing its UK arm. It has five million regular returning customers.

How fast can the e-scooters go?

They can travel at up to 15.5mph but initially the speed will be capped at 10mph until people get used to them.

The speed will be limited to 5mph in certain areas, or 0mph outside the trial zone, making them difficult to ride manually, but they can be wheeled along.

Where are the slow speed zones?

In Bath, speeds will be capped at 5mph in Cheap Street/Westgate Street, Queen Square, New Bond Street, A3039 and Upper St James Parade.

The areas of Bristol with the lower speed limit will include Millennium Square, Wapping Wharf and Broad Quay.

Where are the no-go zones?

Bristol's waterfront, Cabot Circus, the University of Bristol and the shopping quarter.

In Bath the scooters cannot be ridden in the Southgate Centre and the city core between the train station, St James Parade, Cheap Street/Westgate Street, A3039.

Where can I ride them?

Speaking during a Q&A webinar on Monday (October 26) Mr Bowles said: "Only e-scooters hired or leased through this trial can be used legally on public land.

"They can't be ridden on pavements. They can be ridden on roads and cycle lanes. I recommend wearing a helmet."

He added: "Those e-scooters outside this trial are and remain illegal unless they are being used on private land, with the permission of the landowner."

When will the trial begin?

The first phase starts on Thursday, October 29.

Initially only a limited number of e-scooters will be available – 100 in Bristol and 50 in Bath.

How do I get started?

You can hop on an e-scooter once you've downloaded the Voi app and registered, which involves scanning your driving licence.

They cost £1 to unlock and then 20 pence for every minute. Daily and monthly passes will also be available.

Voi is also planning to offer long-term leases aimed at commuters from early in 2021.

Each scooter has a unique number so they can be identified.

What do I do when I finish?

The scooter has to be parked in a specific area for your session to end. Voi staff will keep them maintained and swap out the batteries.

It will employ teams to work overnight to de-clutter the streets and rebalance the vehicles.

They will also disinfect the scooters at least once a day.

How long will the e-scooters last?

Voi says that even with intensive outdoor use they should last five years.

The parts will then be recycled.

What happens if an e-scooter ends up in the water?

Lucy Yu from Voi said: "We condemn this sort of behaviour – whether it's an e-scooter or a supermarket trolley, people shouldn't be littering the waterways.

"All of our scooters are fitted with GPS. We've been in talks with groups about recovering scooters that might be in bodies of water.

"Not only is it vandalism of something that is there for all customers, it is also incredibly irresponsible.

"If we have evidence, we would seek to prosecute. It's totally reprehensible – don't do it."

What do the police think of the trial?

Richard McKiernan, who works in the traffic management unit at Avon and Somerset Police, said: "When the government first announced the trials I was concerned, both from a road safety and an enforcement perspective.

"I've been reassured by the planning and implementation.

"Enforcement is straightforward. We can deal with misuse as we would any other driver – with points on your licence.

"The main headache from a policing perspective is the large number of privately owned e-scooters. They aren't lawful for use. Most people I stop are totally unaware of that and very surprised – they think they're doing the right thing."

Mr McKiernan said shops selling in Bristol them do not always make the law clear to customers. Police have seized more than 100 privately owned e-scooters that were ridden illegally that will be destroyed.

Based on accounts from Teesside, the first area to test e-scooters, he expects the trial in Bristol and Bath to be a "non-event from a policing perspective".

What have equalities groups said about the trial?

The National Federation of the Blind of the UK has called for the trial to be halted after reports across the country of users getting into serious accidents. It said the vehicles are a trip hazard to anyone who is partially sighted, and they may not be aware of riders approaching.

Jason Humm, Weca's head of transport, said: "The e-scooters will be regularly inspected and maintained.

"We recognise that e-scooters are very quiet. We also recognise that bikes and e-bikes are quiet as well.

"We are very careful when we introduce shared spaces. There are already some good precautions taken.

"We've engaged extensively with visual impairment and accessibility groups. We have an ongoing commitment to engage with them."