Adelaide doubles down on e-scooters in CBD
E-scooters will remain on Adelaide city streets for another two years – and there will be more than ever rolling around.
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An extra 500 electric scooters will roll around the CBD and North Adelaide under a plan to keep scooters in the district for a further two years.
The council has put out a tender, which closes on Thursday, to find two e-scooter companies to operate until January 31, 2022.
Under new permit conditions, each operator can deploy a maximum of 500 scooters in the CBD.
In North Adelaide, no more than 500 scooters can operate at any one time, except when there are events when a further 100 can be deployed.
The extra scooters would be dependent on the State Government allowing scooters into North Adelaide.
Adelaide City Council deputy lord mayor Houssam Abiad said scooters have changed the way people move around the city.
“The scooter phenomena has been quite incredible and the demand is really there,” Cr Abiad said.
“It gives the people, who are in a little bit of a rush, the option to get around quickly in an environmentally friendly way.”
Currently, Beam and RIDE can each operate 500 scooters in the CBD, bounded by West, South and East terraces with extensions taking in Adelaide University and Rymill and Rundle parks.
If the scooters venture outside these areas, or in Rundle Mall, where there are not able to be ridden, they will be disabled.
Both Beam and RIDE will reapply for a permit.
Beam vice president corporate affairs Christopher Hilton said extending the boundaries would benefit commuters, particularly on event days at Adelaide Oval.
“Adelaide is a leader in (e-scooter use) in Australia, showcasing how these vehicles can be used in a safe and efficient matter,” Mr Hilton said.
“The commitment to a two-year (permit) shows the original trial’s success.”
RIDE chief executive Tom Cooper said there was a market for scooters in North Adelaide.
“People want to get out and about onto O’Connell St and Melbourne St, so we think it would be a real positive addition,” Mr Cooper said.
Lime, which was squeezed out of the Adelaide Market in April, told The Advertiser it was preparing a tender.
It would cost operators $1530 plus GST per week for the permit.
Planning Minister Stephan Knoll said he would “soon” make a decision about whether boundaries should be expanded Adelaide.