Hire-and-ride e-scooters scattered across Hobart’s CBD and Sandy Bay may be here to stay, as the city council recommends continuing the current setup.
Beyond e-scooters, the council is also exploring potentially introducing hireable e-bikes, despite other Australian cities moving in the opposite direction.
Melbourne recently removed its e-scooters, which Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece called an “unacceptable safety risk” due to pedestrian hazards.
At Monday’s meeting, Hobart city councillors will vote on several recommendations.
These include extending the hire-and-ride e-scooter program, launching a public procurement process to select an operator for a future permit and exploring the introduction of e-bikes.
It has also been recommended the council also plans to evaluate additional parking zones and stricter controls to tackle the ongoing parking issues.
A recent survey found that 57% of Hobart residents are in favour of keeping e-scooters.
Usage is also down on early rollout figures when monthly trips peaked at 41,450, since settling at an average of 13,000 as the novelty fades.
“While Beam has introduced new technologies and regulatory approaches to better control the parking of e-scooters, inappropriate e-scooter parking remains a concern across the city,” a council report reads.
The existing permit with Beam is set to expire on May 6.
