Beam Mobility wants to expand e-scooter boundaries to North Adelaide and Entertainment Centre
One of the electric scooter companies trialling their service in Adelaide wants to expand its boundary beyond the CBD and offer rides as far as O’Connell St and the Entertainment Centre.
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An electric scooter company wants to operate in North Adelaide and Hindmarsh as a way of tackling congestion on city roads.
It comes as the State Government said it could consider stationing e-scooters around transport hubs across metropolitan Adelaide, pending the outcome of a CBD trial that ends in October.
Beam Mobility has asked Transport Minister Stephan Knoll to consider letting it extend its boundary – now currently limited to the CBD.
Under that proposal, commuters could travel along War Memorial Drive and Barton Tce West into North Adelaide, and along Port Rd to the Entertainment Centre.
Beam Mobility head of operations Locky Cooper said e-scooters had become a popular mode of transport and could help beat peak-hour congestion.
“We have had a lot of interest from people asking us to expand the area,” Mr Cooper said.
“We would love to deploy e-scooters to North Adelaide and to the Entertainment Centre, (which would) increase access to and from the city along those corridors.”
Beam and RIDE secured permits in April to operate up to 500 scooters each in the CBD until October.
The scooters have been described as a “first and last mile transport solution” to help commuters reach their first or final destination.
Beam head of public affairs Brad Kitschke said he would like to see e-scooters stationed at park ‘n’ rides at all major transport hubs and at frequently visited locations across Adelaide.
He said the closure of King William St for the tram upgrade – which has created traffic chaos – made it an ideal time to put forward the proposal.
Adelaide City councillor Anne Moran supports the proposal, saying it would encourage more visitors to North Adelaide – with spin-off benefits for traders.
“I think they would be good along O’Connell and Melbourne streets,” Cr Moran said.
“It would link North Adelaide and the city with another transport option.”
Friends & Residents of North Adelaide founder Valdis Dunis agreed.
“It would be good to get people up and down the hill,” Mr Dunis said.
“It can be difficult for some people and they end up getting a taxi and driving to get into the city, so it would be a good travelling method.”
But Adelaide City Council place acting director Klinton Devenish said the e-scooter boundary would not be amended “at this stage”.
“The City of Adelaide, along with the State Government, is reviewing the e-scooter trial and will be looking to put forward recommendations prior to the conclusion of the current trial,” Mr Devenish said.
“We anticipate that e-scooter services will continue past October with some amendments agreed to by State Government and council.”
Mr Knoll said the trial had been “quite successful” and was providing a “first and last mile” solution.
“The State Government is happy to consider the request once the trial has been completed, and in partnership with local councils,” Mr Knoll said.
“After and pending the outcome of the trial, e-scooters could provide an option to deliver important first and last mile services around transport hubs.”