Price dropped on e-scooters hire

A PRICE drop is coming to Ballarat’s Neuron Mobility e-scooters fleet with the aim of encouraging more people to use the devices amid a cost-of-living crisis.

The $1 unlocking fee has been removed and the per-minute charge has been reduced from 51 cents to 31 cents.

Since the scooters launched in 2021, Ballarat residents have travelled a total of 500,000 kilometres on the machines.

However, demand has reduced with a 30 per cent decrease in kilometres travelled on sooters this winter compared to last.

Jayden Bryant, head of Neuron Mobility in Australia and New Zealand said the price reduction is an attempt to provide residents with a more affordable mode of transport.

“With Ballarat residents tightening their belts as a result of the increasing costs of living it is great to be able to support commuters with cheaper e-scooter rates,” he said.

“More than ever before e-scooters present a great option for those considering ditching their cars.”

The State Government funded e-scooter trial began in Ballarat in 2021 with 250 vehicles, and the following year the riding area was expanded, and an extra 150 e-scooters were added.

A spokesperson for the State Government said monitoring of the trial to see if e-scooters can become a regular part of the Victorian transport network is ongoing.

“We’ve extended the e-scooter trial to further evaluate if e-scooters can be safely integrated into the Victorian transport network,” the spokesperson said.

“We will closely monitor the use of both privately owned and shared e-scooters to understand their benefits and risks.”