A major e-scooter business has “paused” its operations in a tourist mecca, less than four months after launching there.
About 200 of Beam Mobility’s machines were available for hire at locations around Noosa, including at Tewantin, Noosaville, Sunshine Beach, Peregian Beach and Noosa Heads.
The company in June formed deals with partner locations in the region, involving Noosa Lakes Resort, Noosa Marina, Noosa Sun Motel and Bounce Noosa among others. The e-scooters could be parked at any partner location following trips.
The app-based service was expected to bolster the local economy, but Beam has confirmed that it suspended operations in early October.
“Beam Mobility has paused its shared micro-mobility operations in Noosa,” a statement read.
Beam general manager Tom Cooper told Sunshine Coast News that the business had enjoyed some success in the region but there were some issues.
“We’re proud to have brought zero-emissions transportation to Noosa, with over 20,000km travelled and just under 5000 trips taken across the past three months,” he said.
“However, we have received rider feedback on the limitations of the number of partner parking locations currently available.”
Sunshine Coast News understands some hirers were leaving the devices on public land.
Mr Cooper said the business still had a future in the region, and that many locals and visitors were eager to use the service.
“We are pausing operations whilst we secure more partner locations in areas our riders are keen to access,” he said.
“We definitely still see a demand for shared micro-mobility as a transportation option for short trips in Noosa, and we are working to allow us to provide the service to the community where and when they want it.”
Beam Mobility successfully operates in more than 60 cities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Noosa Council said there was a place for e-mobility in the region and it was “very supportive of alternative and innovative transport methods”.
“Council considers e-bike and e-scooters as a convenient, flexible and sustainable mode of transport in urban areas,” acting infrastructure services director Shaun Walsh said.
Mr Walsh said council was aware Beam had paused its operations, which was a decision of the operator.
He also said council had a voluntary code of conduct “to provide a set of operating guidelines for commercial operators and outlets of personal mobility devices”.
The code outlines requirements for where the scooters should be parked and states that personal mobility devices hirers are not permitted to leave scooters on council land.
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