They may be gaining traction across Europe, the US and China but Noosa Council said no last Thursday to Neon Ride’s application to operate an electric scooter business on public land.
“While considering the future of these new mobility devices, we’ll be liaising with the Department of Transport and Main Roads on various issues,” Mayor Tony Wellington said.
“Like other Queensland councils, we’re watching Brisbane City Council’s e-scooter trial with great interest. We’re also awaiting release of the National Transport Commission’s discussion paper on safe electric scooter use in Australia.”
Last month the ABC reported on 300 people being fined for safety breaches, most for not wearing helmets, while riding e-scooters in Brisbane and 120 people being taken to hospital for injuries related to e-scooter use in the first two months since the introduction of the trial.
Despite the issues Brisbane City Council has extended its trial to the middle of this year and is considering tenders for two companies to operate e-scooters.
Cr Wellington said with so many unanswered questions, issuing a permit in Noosa now would be premature.
“It makes sense to properly consider the risks associated with having pedestrians share footpaths with fast-moving e-scooters. Other concerns include the enforcement of new laws for e-scooter riders, and of course the safety and amenity issues associated with dockless scooters being left on roadsides and in public areas.
“There is also the cloudy issue of insurance risk for Council if we were to provide a permit for such businesses to operate on Council-controlled land.
“While e-scooters may have a useful part to play in the bigger transport picture, other regions’ experience shows they clearly present challenges. Once we have strategies for tackling these challenges we’ll be in a much better positon to consider applications from e-scooter operators looking to launch their product here.”
