They provide an easy and environmentally friendly way-out of traffic jams and their use is surging throughout the world.
Now Sunshine Coast Council, which is working towards creating the most sustainable region in the nation, wants to explore whether electric scooters and bikes could make life in the region even better.
Council will seek expressions of interest (EOI) for an e-scooter and e-bike business operator trial in the Maroochydore and Mooloolaba area.
The announcement is set to garner interest from one or two new and existing hire operators keen to roll out their service in the region.
The operators should be established and experienced to operate their e-mobility business in a trail arrangement which incorporates council-controlled land.
The trial is proposed for 18 months in Maroochydore and Mooloolaba only before the council considers a long-term arrangement for the region.
When debating the proposal at the Sunshine Coast ordinary council meeting last Thursday, councillors expressed how they hoped it would be a local business operator selected in the EOI process.
During the meeting, councillors voiced their reservations and concerns around the trial, which echoed some risks listed in a council report on the proposal.
These included: safety of mobility device’s operation, particularly e-scooter, “littering” of e-bikes and e-scooter as well as impacts to other road and footpath users, including serious injury.
A council report showed safety was a key consideration for the implementation of the trial.
“The Department of Transport and Main Roads have recently updated its rules and regulations regarding e-bikes and e-scooters,” the report showed.
“A ‘Personal Mobility Device Safety Action Plan’ has been released, which contains further actions and associated timeframes. Queensland is also considered a frontrunner in the adoption and regulation of e-bikes and e-scooters.”
It further stated that in detail of the action plan, the safety of e-scooter users and their interaction with other path users should be considered a high priority.
“Serious injuries and deaths have occurred in other council areas where trials have been underway for several years,” the report stated.
The State Government is responding to these incidents and has introduced legislation to limit e-scooter speeds to the default 12 km/h on shared paths and 25 km/h on dedicated bikeways from November 1.
“While e-scooters may be prohibited in some high use areas such as the Mooloolaba foreshore, it is proposed that shared paths on the Sunshine Coast will be assigned the default 12 km/h speed limit,” the report showed.
The report identified the highest safety risk being privately owned e-scooters with the capacity to travel “many times” over the maximum speed limit.
“Council does not have the authority to control privately owned e-scooter use and speeding is common on both roads and pathways,” it stated.
“Commercial operators can regulate the operation of their e-scooter fleet using technology. Operators can also suspend or delete user accounts if complaints are received.”
The report introduced a local law permit to be adopted and its benefits of managing the trial in the region.
“Inappropriately parked e-bikes and e-scooters would be the responsibility of the preferred operators with all complaints directed to the relevant provider,” the report showed.
“Operators with dedicated parking zones encourage riders to return e-scooters and e-bikes to designated zones by continuing to charge fees until they are parked in a nominated area.
“ … commercial operators now have staff on location to swap out batteries and re-position equipment. This same arrangement will apply on the Sunshine Coast during the trial period.
“Permit holders will be responsible for managing all operational complaints associated with the trial.”
Councillors voted unanimously for the proposed trial to go ahead at the council meeting.
Transport Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said the trial was an exciting step towards more sustainable travel solutions for the region.
He said it was a great opportunity to try out the technology without having to buy the costly e-bikes or e-scooters.
“This trial is an opportunity for council, residents and visitors to test e-scooter and e-bike hire operators on the Sunshine Coast.”
“E-scooters and e-bikes are a sustainable travel option that ease traffic congestion and provide an active and eco-friendly alternative to getting around.
“The trial is another step towards the Sunshine Coast Council’s goal of becoming Australia’s most sustainable region.”
EOI’s will be open from December 12 to February 3 and, following an assessment process, successful applicants would be able to commence operations from April 1.
To read more about the expressions of interest process visit Sunshine Coast Council.
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