Short journeys in the spotlight

THE City of Mount Gambier is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from electric scooter (e-scooter) mobility operators to trial a public e-scooter fleet in Mount Gambier for 12 months.

E-scooters offer a sustainable alternative transport option for short journeys and daily commutes and the Statutes Amendment (Personal Mobility Devices) Act 2024 enables e-scooters and other personal mobility devices to be ridden on roads and in public areas once the associated regulations are adopted and published this year.

City of Mount Gambier manager economy, strategy and engagement Biddie Shearing said subject to the EOI identifying and engaging a successful operator, the trial would involve council issuing a permit to operate a trial.

“The operator would then deploy e-scooters in the public domain across the city, which could be hired for temporary us,” Ms Shearing said. “It is envisaged that the system would operate in much the same manner as public e-scooter fleets operate in other towns and cities.”

The call for an e-scooter trial is a resolution of council from September last year and will test whether a commercial e-scooter fleet may or may not become a long term transport alternative for the local community.

City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM was confident the community would embrace the opportunity if council decided to engage an operator for an e-scooter trial.

“Given our inadequate public transport service, I am hopeful that such a transport option will enable some of our residents to have more accessibility around our city,” Mayor Martin said. “I also believe e-scooters will provide great opportunities for visitors to access the wonderful attractions Mount Gambier has to offer, which at the moment are only accessible by vehicle.”

Information gathered from the trial would provide council with a greater understanding of possible engagement with micro-mobility transport options into the future.

“A local working group would be established to support the trial period including a range of stakeholders with different interests attached to the trial,” Ms Shearing said. “The working group would meet regularly with Council staff, the operator and other relevant stakeholders to assess progress and respond to any potential or emerging issues.

“There will be several factors that would need to be assessed as part of the trial, including transport behaviours of both residents and businesses, management of public safety, user participation, permit terms, conditions and management responsibilities and general community support for the program.”

If the EOI achieves a suitable collaborative project partner, council intends for the trial to operate for a period of 12 months.

Expressions of Interest close on April 17.

Visit https://www.haveyoursaymountgambier.com.au/e-scootertrial for further details.