Review of e-transport trial underway: locals urged to have their say

Locals can now have their say on whether e-transport is suited to the Sunshine Coast, before an 18-month trial comes to an end.

Sunshine Coast Council is exploring whether permanent electric scooter and bike hire services could be further utilised in busy areas.

A trial, with Neuron Mobility, is providing people with opportunities to test e-scooter and e-bike hire services.

Before the trial ends in September, council is seeking community feedback to evaluate if e-transport is a good fit for the region and if the community would embrace this mode of transport as an alternative for getting around Maroochydore and Mooloolaba.

Council stated that it is environmentally friendly and is in line with council’s Environment and Liveability Strategy, which aims to foster healthy, smart and creative solutions to how people live and move around the region.

A change in commuter behaviour also supports council’s desire to reduce car trips across our region, as outlined in council’s Integrated Transport Strategy.

Since the trial’s introduction, 400 e-scooters and 75 e-bikes have made more than 100,000 trips and travelled 218,000km.

The e-transport roll-out was last year lauded by council CEO Emma Thomas as “a healthy, safe alternative for adults to enjoy all the Coast has to offer”.

But it led to another e-scooter business speaking out about dumped e-scooters. Several Sunshine Coast News readers have also expressed safety concerns in letters to the editor.

Related story: Jane Stephens: we need to enforce e-scooter laws

Council said it was committed to finding the right service provider with the right equipment and experience to provide a safe, eco-friendly alternative to getting around our region, while helping to ease traffic congestion.

Residents and visitors have been invited to review the Neuron e-transport trial until Monday, June 3, 5pm, by answering a short Have Your Say survey.

Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.