Beam e-scooters at Ainslie Place in Civic. They can end far and wide and not so neatly parked. Photo: Photox – Canberra Photography Services.
It’s time for ACT Government to take another look at the e-scooter hire scheme as the brightly coloured devices litter the landscape, rider injuries mount and the hazards they create on shared paths become more apparent.
There are 1500 trackable scooters available in Belconnen and central Canberra from two companies, Beam and Neuron, which employ teams to collect abandoned machines.
They obviously have their work cut out, with scooters turning up in more places than just beside or on paths. Fishing them out of Lake Burley Griffin and Lake Ginninderra is a priority, but they have also been seen on Parkways, other odd spots, and in suburbs outside of their supposedly geo-fenced zones.
Those left on shared paths are obviously a safety hazard to cyclists and other wheeled users such as those with a disability.
READ ALSO: Will anyone be missing Summernats in Canberra this weekend?
Many riders themselves have failed to come to grips with the scooters, which have a top speed of 25 km/h, with 60 people presenting to emergency departments at Canberra and Calvary Hospitals with scooter-related injuries in the first few months since their introduction.
This follows the European experience where scooter injuries were rife after their take-up.
Then there are those who flout the road rules, including riding after a few drinks, failing to wear a helmet, or are just plain inconsiderate.
The scooters are supposed to provide a cheap, environmentally friendly way for people to get around, particularly visitors, and some Canberrans have bought their own for commuting but the large number strewn haphazardly around the city and the safety issues raised require a second look.
The government needs to find a way, though carrot or stick, for riders not to be so careless about what they do with the scooters at journey’s end.
It also needs to evaluate whether adding scooters to the increasingly busy shared path network is viable.
Perhaps a reduction in speed limits from the top of 25 km/h on a shared or bike path, and the 15 km/h on a footpath would reduce the incidence of accidents and potential for collisions.
It may have to increase and impose penalties to hit the hip pocket of users as a deterrent.
READ ALSO: Skywhale and Skywhalepapa to grace Canberra’s sky for the first time in February
All this goes against the spirit of what is supposed to be a fun experience that adds that seemingly all-important vibrancy to the city, at least that’s the pitch from providers.
But the bottom line is they are transportation vehicles using public spaces that need to be regulated so the city amenity is not an eyesore and ensure the wellbeing of citizens.
It’s not yet time to ban the things but to allow the current free-for-all to continue is not a goer.
Loading ...
Saturday the drunks were on the road using a milk crate as a seat flying down limestone!
Wtf
Just ban em 🤣
In Tuggers we don’t have these problems. Home invasions and drive by shootings are things we have learned to tolerate instead.
While I appreciate the fun factor these provide as well as the occassional convenience ( I’ve used them to run around the CBD), there are quite a few issues arising. The destruction of infrastructure is mounting, they present too concerntrated a mass at high speed and paths, in particular paved paths are cracking and subsiding, creating both an aesthetic issue and a potential trip hazard. The destruction of the steps into Glebe Park, a stark example.
I’m also fed up with not sleeping as people woohoo! as the speed past our apartment clacking as the go on the broken pavers (who should pay for these?)
Finally almost having my dog hit several times leads me to agree, a big rethink needs to occur, primarily slowing them to under 15kph in the immediate future and a long hard look as to whether this is really what we want round here.
People just don’t give a rats but they will care if they get billed for recklessness , dumping leaving them in stupid places even half way down the motorway 🤷🏿♀️
Mind you you carnt even get right away walking across a road without getting peeped by merch drivers even when the little green man is flashing you to go .
Great article Ian. Balanced as usual. I must admit, as a resident of Kingston, my initial reaction was rage when they first appeared. I’m surprised no-one has been killed on one of these rental scooters as yet. My observations from my third floor rental apartment on Giles Street include the following: almost no-one wears the provided helmet; road rules are not followed; signals for left and right are not given; milk crates are frequently added as seats; donuts and drag races are common; shifting between the road and pedestrian shared paths is confusing and dangerous for foot traffic and cars alike – they are also left with gay abandon on driveway and nature strips. So, yes, I believe there are a few issues that need to be addressed, primarily for safety reasons. Maybe some ACT Police could do a bit of patrolling on some blue and white scooters and hand out some on the spot fines and do some breath testing … fines could be as little as $20 for not wearing a helmet etc. I like the concept though and the more liberal use of ACT land and regulations … just got to put my brain on how to get in on this new way of doing business … one more point or question really: Is there an age limit to renting and riding these scooters?
Hi tim i think the age limit is 16 and yes they should be fined for not wearing helmet I agree should be same laws as bikes
Old man continues to believe he is the voice of Canberrra.
Fortunately here in the inner south I haven't seen a problem with the scooters yet. I often see them neatly lined up at the local shops. Also some have been left in my street, but they weren't interfering with anyone, and the next day or two they were gone. Driving around Canberra I also see them in places, and the overwhelming majority of the scooters have been left in a safe way. A small minority of them could have been parked in a better place (such as not on a lawned slope where they fell over), but even most of those were not hazardous. As for Civic, the last time I was there was a couple of weeks ago, and I don't remember seeing any problems with scooters. One parked where I wanted to tie my bike, but that's jealously on my part, as they got the spot I wanted, not that the scooter rider had done the wrong thing.
There are more injuries and incidents from e-scooters, compared to when there were no e-scooters. Makes sense. In the 1600s there were no injuries or incidents involving motor vehicles, none at all, and now there are. Somebody needs to do something.
The article contains only one suggestion as to what should be done. That is to reduce their top speed.
it'll take a while for people to learn how to not be idiots. give them time.
Tama Ra history in other cities in Australia, and around the globe, suggests otherwise.
Please link this history @jessemahoney, what sources have you gotten that opinion from?
I dont know Tama Ra how many years have Canberrans had to learn how to not be idiots in cars and yet they still can't merge like a zipper or keep left unless overtaking 🤣
Police could walk around Civic and get up the idiots its not hard
What Police!! we have a Police force do we?
Tama Ra nah... The human race will be extinct* before then.. 😉
Nick Savino oh, come on, there are not enough police to do the important things in this town.
Anthony Grice distinct or extinct?
Zero police on the streets = people being idiots. Not rocket science Mr Barr. Get a local force for community policing please. Doesn’t need to be huge but needs to have a visible presence.
Tama Ra you've never travelled and seen share scooters and bikes dumped, trashed, or gutted for batteries?
If the government bans Escooters will all the people who have paid for private ones be able to return them to an access Canberra shopfront and get a payment? It would be highly unfair for those that have paid $1k+ to then have an asset that they cannot use just because some people are wankers and can’t share the path
Matthew Waugh read the article. It has nothing to do with privately owned escooters.
Matthew Waugh I don't think it's about ownership, rather the littering of public places by the users of who abandon them when finished. Personally, I would like to see the commercial hire of them banned.
This is why we cant have nice things 🙄🤦♀️
Fair comment. That they can be left any old place, clearly socialises costs and privatises profits. They should all be left at central collection points, with penalties if you don’t. See under, Aldi trolleys.
That is how they are meant to work. Eg can park them only in designated places and park them elsewhere it won’t let you “log off”. Don’t think it works too well though.
The problem is that none of the users seem to be aware that they must give way to pedestrians. The anti-social element that deliberately parks to block footpaths doesn't help their cause either. I've seen them parked three in a row across the footpath at Dickson shops and at Haig Park.
Guy Hosking They are supposrd to be left on public land, usually a nature strip / verge.
Kytie Mclign Yes but not deliberately blocking footpaths when there was plenty of room elsewhere at Haig Park.
Captain Buzzkill rides again.
Same in Adelaide dumped everywhere
Old Man Yells At Cars
Dane Roberts spot on!!!
A few idiots do the wrong thing as expected, so ban them? *yawn*
Brad Rogers *shrug* Governments love their knee-jerk reactions..
Agreed a nothing story again
Brad Rogers please define "a few". I have seen lots (15 to 20) "incidents" where the scooters are being used by children definitely under 18.
I've seen half a dozen racing "incidents", usage on streets when there were footpaths, multiple people on one scooter, and let's not get started on the number of people not wearing helmets.
I am not saying to ban the scooters but, maybe a system where the scooters are picked up/returned to allocated depots and the scooters should be locked to a pole/other scooters and only unlocked when tapped to activate and can only be "returned" when locked back up at a depot otherwise, the clock keeps running and the charges keep going until a daily maximum is reached.
I know it wouldn't be as convenient as the drop and go anywhere logic but it might help with the random abandoning actions happening now.
I've had to take scooters back to the shops twice after some random thinks its OK just to dump it on my front yard for whatever reason
Adam Jovanovic The eScooters are GPS-enabled, so They actually can be left on a nature strip / verge - probably their own, though.
Adam Jovanovic why. The mob running the scooters have then tracked with gps and will drive around to collect/recharge/reposition as needed.