Port Phillip will be home to Victoria’s first trial of electric scooters (eScooters) if a safe way of testing this popular new technology is found.
Port Phillip Council has decided to throw its support behind a trial of up to 500 electric scooters for three or six months if the Victorian Government introduces regulations allowing them to be used on roads and minimum service standards.
If the trial proceeds, Council will run a competitive Expression of Interest process to allow up to two eScooter operators to participate. No agreements have been made at this early stage with any operators.
Mayor Dick Gross said electric scooters are proving popular in several other states and internationally.
“This technology has well and truly arrived, so we are keen to learn how jumping on an eScooter could help residents and visitors move easily around our City,” Cr Gross said.
“It could also encourage more people to ditch cars for public transport by providing a convenient and flexible way for them to get to and from their homes to a train or tram.”
Unlike the unexpected arrival of oBike in Melbourne in 2017, Cr Gross said this time around an opportunity exists to set the scene for a successful trial.
“Council is in discussions about how the Victorian Government can make the changes required to allow eScooters of a certain speed and power to travel safely on our roads.
“Other considerations, such as enforcement, age limits, speeds and which roads they could be used on must also be resolved before we can give a trial the green light.”
A trial would be undertaken in geographically defined areas of the municipality to complement existing active and public transport routes.
Background
eScooters with a maximum power of more than 200 watts and a maximum speed above 10 km/h cannot be used on roads or road-related areas under current Victorian road rules.
