The Launceston City Council will review city centre signage to clear up confusion about where e-scooters can and can’t be ridden.
The decision follows concerns raised at the recent Annual General Meeting, where a resident said it is unclear where personal mobility devices (PMDs) like e-scooters are allowed.
The council was told many locals aren’t sure about the rules and some mistakenly assume they’re the same as those for bicycles.
Private e-scooters, unlike rental ones that are geofenced, add to the confusion because their users aren’t automatically prevented from entering restricted areas.
Council’s Infrastructure and Engineering Manager Erica Deegan said areas like the Launceston CBD and certain parks and trails are off-limits for PMDs.
“It is acknowledged that there is some lack of clarity about where PMDs can be ridden in the CBD within the general public,” she said.
“Updating the existing signs that restrict the use of bikes, skateboards and scooters to also prohibit PMDs should largely resolve this confusion.”
Deegan said any new signage would help confirm the rules for riders but would likely not be enforced.
“Acknowledging we have not undertaken a comprehensive search, relevant officers are not aware of any significant issues or complaints about PMDs (either private or hire-and-ride) in these pedestrian areas, so while there is some ambiguity, it is not a high priority to resolve,” Deegan said.
“Likewise, the hire-and-ride geo-fencing could be tweaked in the CBD, but in the absence of any notable problems, there is limited reason to do so.”
