Beam locked in as Hobart’s new sole e-scooter operator

Published on 12 March 2024

After careful consideration, the City of Hobart has announced the selection of Beam as the sole operator for the city's e-scooter program, marking a significant step towards enhancing accountability, sustainability, and safety within our community.

Through this partnership, the City aims to streamline operations, reduce clutter, and promote responsible micromobility usage while advancing towards a greener and more accessible urban environment across Hobart.

With nearly 800 riders per day now choosing to use e-scooters, the data tells a very positive story around the impacts e-scooters are providing our community as an alternative form of transport for both residents and visitors to Hobart.

Hobart Sustainability in Infrastructure Portfolio Chair Cr Bill Harvey said the next stage of the city’s e-scooter program demonstrated the City's continued commitment to sustainable, high-quality transport solutions which help us continue to ease traffic congestion.

"The e-scooter program represents an integral component of our efforts to create cleaner, safer, and a more people-centred Hobart,” Cr Harvey said.

“Data from the trial shows us e-scooter riders have travelled nearly 1.4 million kilometres across Hobart, with 47 per cent of those trips replacing fossil fuel vehicle rides equating to the reduction of 110 tonnes of CO2.”

Cr Harvey highlighted the importance of the new permit system in ensuring operator accountability and fostering a more sustainable urban landscape.

"With the introduction of fines for parking clutter and continuation of the Three Strike Policy for rider breaches, we are taking decisive steps towards promoting responsible e-scooter usage and improving the overall experience for all members of our community," Cr Harvey said.

The new permit system, developed in collaboration with a micromobility consultant and other Australian councils, incorporates key performance indicators to ensure compliance with safety standards, environmental impact reporting, and operational efficiency.

Beam’s General Manager (ANZ) Tom Cooper said that as e-scooters have become a mainstream transport choice in Hobart, Beam are committed to expanding shared-micromobility as a form of transport for all, accelerating modal shift away from cars in a safe and affordable way.

“Amongst the changes we’re making, we’re excited to be upgrading our Hobart e-scooter fleet to our latest Saturn 5 model, catering for longer commuter journeys with features like wireless phone charging and auditory alerts,” Mr Cooper said.

“We are also excited to be introducing Hobart’s first seated e-scooters to the fleet, opening up e-scooter riding to more residents and visitors.

“We continue to be committed to forming partnerships with local community members and organisations and engaging in discussions around the safe operation of e-scooters to ensure the safety of riders, pedestrians and other road users.”

Additionally, the City has partnered with Ride Report, a third-party open data provider, to enhance transparency and provide valuable insights for future transport and urban planning initiatives.

Key features of the e-scooter program include:

• Introduction of fines for parking clutter to improve operator accountability.
• Expansion of designated parking bays in CBD, Battery Point, and Sandy Bay to enhance safety for vulnerable footpath users.
• Continuation of a Three Strike Policy for rider breaches to promote responsible behaviour.
• Deployment of an e-scooter dashboard to facilitate transparency and management efficiencies.

The e-scooter program remains committed to existing safety measures, including speed limitations, geofencing, and parking technology.

Furthermore, the City is exploring innovative solutions such as unsafe rider detection alerts and seated e-scooters for individuals with mobility issues to further enhance user experience and safety.

"We are excited to embark on this new chapter of the e-scooter program, leveraging technology and data-driven insights to create a more sustainable and inclusive urban environment," Cr Harvey said.

The City of Hobart would also like to thank Neuron Mobility for their participation during the trial phase as part of the Smart City Action Plan and Sustainable Hobart Action Plan.

Neuron Mobility Australia and New Zealand general manager Jayden Bryant said they were proud to have launched the City of Hobart and Tasmania's first micromobility program.

“We would like to express our gratitude to the City of Hobart, our wonderful riders, and the many local companies and residents for their support,” Mr Bryant said.

“We would also like to acknowledge and thank our fantastic local Neuron team, who have worked tremendously hard to make the program a success.”

A four-to-six-week transition period will begin before Beam takes on sole operations in Hobart.

For more information about the City of Hobart's e-scooter program, visit here.