Beam is here to stay and Neuron will go as the City of Hobart confirms its final and exclusive e-scooter licensee.
The purple scooter business has been locked in as the exclusive operator for the south of the state following a lengthy trial and tender process, adding to their existing contracts with councils in Launceston, Burnie and Devonport.
Alongside upgrading their Hobart e-scooter fleet to the latest models in the upcoming months, the Singapore-based company will also debut their first seated e-scooters on the city’s streets.
Around 800 riders use e-scooters within the city on a daily basis, a number that Sustainability in Infrastructure Portfolio Chair Councillor Bill Harvey says is helping the council’s mission to create a “cleaner, safer and a more people-centred Hobart”.
“Data from the trial shows us e-scooter riders have travelled nearly 1.4 million kilometres across Hobart, with 47% of those trips replacing fossil fuel vehicle rides equating to the reduction of 110 tonnes of CO2,” he said.
“With the introduction of fines for parking clutter and continuation of the Three Strike Policy for rider breaches, we are taking decisive steps towards promoting responsible e-scooter usage and improving the overall experience for all members of our community.”
Designated parking bays will be expanded across the CBD, Battery Point and Sandy Bay to improve safety for pedestrians and an e-scooter dashboard will be setup to allow for the council to have an overview of the network.
Existing safety protocols including speed limitations, geofencing and parking technology will remain in force.
Beam’s General Manager in Australia Tom Cooper said their upgraded Saturn 5 model fleet is equipped to accommodate longer commuter journeys with features like wireless phone charging and auditory alerts.
“We continue to be committed to forming partnerships with local community members and organisations and engaging in discussions around the safe operation of e-scooters to ensure the safety of riders, pedestrians and other road users,” he said.
Orange Neuron e-scooters will be phased out of the city within the next six weeks.
