Hireable E-scooters have been a hit, especially with younger Hervey Bay residents getting to work according to a recent survey.
Residents were polled following a six-month trial of e-scooters in the Bay by international company Bird. It was found that the scooters were the main mode of transport for 18 to 24-year-old residents.
Following the trial and analysis of community feedback, Fraser Coast Regional Council are set to call for tenders in a bid to award a commercial permit for the ongoing operation of the e-scooter rentals.
“E-scooters offer a low-cost, environmentally friendly transport alternative and also lead to a reduction in traffic,” Cr Zane O’Keefe said.
“Since the trial started in July 2021, Bird registered more than 50,000 rides in Hervey Bay, with close to one in five residents using an e-scooter during the trial.”
The next step is to call for companies interested in operating an e-scooter rental business on the Fraser Coast to tender a permit to operate.
“The tender conditions would take into account feedback we received following the trial, including ways to increase the number of riders wearing helmets and the orderly parking of scooters,” Cr O’Keefe said.
“Personal mobility devices, including e-scooters, are rising in popularity in Australia, and Queensland legislation already allows the use of privately owned e-scooters on the Fraser Coast.
“While rider behaviour was mentioned in the feedback, there are solutions to reduce these issues.”
The permit would be for 12-months with the potential for a two-year extension. It would specify the number of scooters allowed, operating speed in built up areas as well as the locations where rental e-scooters can operate.
Applicants would need to address concerns regarding rider behaviour and safety as well as outline locations for permanent scooter parking and ways to better enforce helmet wearing.
“Access to affordable and flexible transport options will help more people in this age group get to education facilities, job interviews and jobs which will help address local labour shortages,” Cr O’Keefe said.
“They also improve tourists’ ability to travel between businesses and to enjoy the local attractions.”
Feedback identified several concerns such as parking scooters in inappropriate locations, the instability of the scooters which were regularly found lying on the ground and riders not using helmets.”
The number of rides during the trial suggests that there is enough local demand and that some residents used the rental e-scooters as their main method of transport around Hervey Bay.
