A green transport entrepreneur, riding high on a new e-scooter service, is offering free rides to get more cars off the island’s roads.

Alex Marshall, founder of the Whip Ride Share business, launched in May, spoke this week after the service passed more than 7,500 rides.

The electric vehicles had proved a hit with residents as well as visitors, he said.

“It caught on pretty quick – 7,500 rides means 7,500 less car rides, which helps to contribute to a greener Bermuda,” Mr Marshall said.

“We’re really big on pushing green transportation, which is also keeping us up with other countries.”

The Whip founder said he was giving away $50,000 worth of rides or 100,000 ride credits to existing customers as well as people who sign up for the app over the next week from today.

“Everyone seemed to have fun with it, and it’s affordable – for one person it’s cheaper than getting around by taxi.

“This giveaway is to help increase awareness that there’s a more sustainable travel option for getting around the island.”

Mr Marshall, who brought in 150 of the vehicles from a California firm, said the scooters had proved “a safe form of transportation” during the first five months, with no accidents.

It costs $3 to start a ride and 50 cents a minute thereafter, meaning the giveaway equates to 100,000 credits.

The Whip Ride Share app is available through the Apple Store and Google Play store, or via the company’s own webpage.

Mr Marshall said the green transportation option company helped burnish the island’s reputation as a jurisdiction.

The vehicles, which the company can track on GPS, are available mainly in hubs in Hamilton and St George’s, and can be simply dropped off at any destination.

Although their batteries can cover the full length of the island, Mr Marshall said usage had ranged from short trips to more ambitious rides such as from the St Regis in St George’s to Hamilton.

Users can track the nearest scooter on their phone and reserve the vehicle if they wish, put the scooters into “hold” mode when parking briefly – or, for a person in need of help for a quick ride, the option exists for someone else to cover the trip from their account.

Mr Marshall was confident the giveaway would prove a success.

“Once people sign up, we are asking everyone to try one ride,” he said.

“After that, you’re qualified for the free rides. The credit goes to all users.”