On the road (rails) again.

I’ve been travelling again, but this time within the confines of the country and within unreliable public transportation distance, at the home of the Beatles. This is my second trip to Liverpool and first for business. I was at the joint meeting of the British Division of the International Association of Pathology (BDIAP) and the Pathological Society which held at the University of Liverpool.

The weather may have broken but there’s still plenty to do in the city. I made a slight miscalculation with hotel choice, picking the Titanic Hotel assuming it was in the dock area I was familiar with close to the city. It was not. It’s actually three miles from the conference venue and a similar distance from the main train stations. Walking in formal shoes isn’t a pleasant experience and my feet have been a little destroyed. Luckily Liverpool is one of the pilot sites for electric scooters (operated by a company called Voi) and they’re scattered throughout the city like so much detritus. I had never really considered riding one, much preferring the heft and stability of an e-bike. First things first, they look ridiculous. It’s hard to look professional precariously balancing on a supercharged childrens toy. Having said that, the Voi scooters are pretty rugged and have bigger wheels and suspension. It won’t save you from cobblestoned streets, but they cope pretty well with the bumps and curbs of the average UK city street.

The scooters require a UK driving licence and can only be ridden on roads and cycle paths, although that doesn’t stop some individuals from abusing the system and riding on the footpaths to bypass traffic. This doesn’t appear to be a massive issue from my limited experience (residents may well refute this) and it offers a way of getting around the city without being beholden to taxis or infrequent public transport. The registration process on the app was straightforward and included photographing myself and my driving license, and multiple discount codes and offers were available for getting started. Completing safety training in the form of quizzes can also net some additional credit that can be used for future rides. At the time of writing, the unlock fee was £1 with a £0.20/minute charge.

There are areas of the city where the top speed is limited, and in some areas riding is completely forbidden and the motor cuts out automatically. These areas are far and few between thankfully. I found it alarming how drivers acted around me though. Close passes. Pulling up right on my tail as I waited at lights. A general disregard for vulnerable road users was evident. No doubt there have been some bad actors, but the way to police that behaviour is, well, police! It’s not up to vigilante motorists to ram me off the road to punish those who abuse the system.

Would I recommend public hire scooters? Yes and no. I would definitely recommend getting a helmet if you’re going down this route (I picked one up in Home Bargains for £6 as a safety net!), and broadly speaking a bike is a more active way to get around but it beats waiting for infrequent buses or spending loads on a taxi. They fill a niche for short distance commuting within cities and do it relatively well. That doesn’t make them look any less ridiculous.

And breathe. Time for a coffee.

In between talks I popped into the city centre (yes, on a scooter) to pick up some mementos and to grab a coffee. The home of the Beatles isn’t subtle about the connection, particularly around the Cavern Club. I found a really friendly shop nearby selling music merchandise at a surprisingly reasonable price. The owner was warm and welcoming, not something you’d really expect in the average city, let alone a touristic area. Continuing the theme, I headed over to Lucy in the Sky café for a coffee and some cake. Both were excellent, and the Victoria sponge had a lovingly homemade feel.

It’s time to head back to Plymouth and suffer the indignity of a terminally broken train system. Wish me luck!