It seems that policy on hire e-scooters can change faster than a scooter driven by a drunken helmet-less rider on a downhill footpath.
On 19 July, Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams, proclaimed that “E-scooters are here to stay – they’ve proven popular among commuters, especially shift workers, providing an additional option to travel home safely.”
At that time, the State Government enabled all councils across the State to make their own arrangements with e-scooter hire companies. Its worth noting that privately owned e-scooters were previously made legal across the state – they are illegal in most other states.
Melbourne backflips from tighter regulation to total relegation
But on 13 August, City of Melbourne councillors voted to end their hire agreements with e-scooter hire operators Neuron and Lime in 30 days. Bam!
This news surprised Port Phillip with Mayor Cunsolo telling TWiSK that until 13 August “our Council was unaware that the City of Melbourne was proposing to discuss discontinuing shared e-scooters for now.” Ouch
Cr Marcus Pearl described his reaction a little more forcefully saying Council was blindsided by the City of Melbourne’s actions.
“This lack of communication and coordination is particularly troubling given the collaborative approach that brought Port Phillip into the e-scooter trial in the first place,” he said in a media statement.
25% of e-scooter trips in Port Phillip start or finish in the CoM
From mid-September, hire scooters from Port Phillip will stop working at the municipal boundary with Melbourne. This will leave out key destinations like The Alfred, Southbank, South Wharf and Shrine/Botanic Gardens. It will also divide parts of St Kilda Road. Tricky.
But our Mayor is undeterred, with Council committed to the existing agreements with the two current e-scooter operators until a procurement process and transition to a new shared e-scooter agreement is completed [in 2025].
“Safety and amenity impacts of e-scooters in our City will continue to be monitored as we respond to community concerns. As always, our community can provide their views on e-scooters to Councillors or to Council.
“We welcome the Victorian Government’s focus on tougher enforcement of non-compliance with its recently announced stricter fine schedule and commitment to provide Protective Services Officers with the power to issue fines for breaches such as footpath or tandem riding,” she said.
TWiSK wonders how the community will be involved in the procurement process.
FYI e-Scooter laws
E-scooter riders must:
- be over 16 years old
- not exceed 20kph
- ride only on roads with a speed limit of 60kph or less and on bike or shared paths
- wear a helmet
- have control of the vehicle and ride responsibly
- use a warning to avert danger (eg a bell)
- follow traffic rules
- give way to pedestrians
- have front and rear lights at night
E-scooter riders cannot:
- ride on a footpath
- use a mobile phone while riding
- ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- carry passengers or animals
- tether an animal to an e-scooter
- ride side-by-side
- ride a high-speed e-scooter capable of more than 25khp
- ride on roads that have a speed limit over 60kph
It looks like the PSO’s will be in high demand to enforce these laws.
