Invitation to speak up on e-scooter trial

LOCALS have been invited to have their say regarding the twelve-month micro mobility e-scooter trial ending in May, with feedback able to be submitted via the council’s online engagement platform, Let’s Talk, until 5pm on Monday 17 March.

According to share hire business and trial facilitator Beam, between May 2024 and January 2025 there were 8994 users within the trial zone and 39,883 trips, traveling 1.6 kilometres on average.

The current scheme provides around 200 Saturn-5 e-scooters around the CBD, available for hire between 5am and 11pm, seven days a week.

Beam developed the trial area in consultation with the City and an external stakeholder group that included Victoria Police and Bendigo Health.

Complaints received peaked last May with 32 objections lodged, which has now dropped to around five per month.

Manager strategic planning Anthony Petherbridge said the trial has been an opportunity to assess the success of share hire e-scooters as an alternative mode of transport for residents and visitors.

“The City is committed to fostering sustainable transport options that benefit the community and visitors to move around more easily,” Mr Petherbridge said.

“This trial puts to the test how a micro-transport economy can play in creating a more connected and sustainable network, particularly at transport hubs.

“We want to know the impact of the trial and if residents and visitors have benefited from having access to (the) e-scooters.

“I encourage you to complete a brief survey on our online engagement platform Let’s Talk. We would like to hear from Beam riders, businesses, and the broader community.

“As the trial is earmarked to finish at the end of May, the data from the trial and public feedback will be presented to Council to determine the next steps.”

To share your thoughts, visit the Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo website.