‘Bugs just about everybody’: Councillor calls for e-scooters to be banned from footpaths

An Adelaide City Council stalwart is calling for e-scooters to be banned from footpaths to better protect riders, pedestrians and road users.

New data from reporting app Snap Send Solve reveals a 13 per cent increase, in complaints about e-scooters this year in Adelaide (mainly around where, the e-scooters have been parked), compared to last year. Pictures: supplied

An Adelaide City Council stalwart is calling for e-scooters to be banned from footpaths to better protect riders, pedestrians and road users.

Long-serving councillor and deputy lord mayor Phil Martin said while he personally wasn’t a fan of the micro-mobility, the reality was it was growing in popularity around the world.

On average there are now more than 2000 trips taken a day on the city’s e-scooters, according to information provided by Adelaide City Council.

“I recognise the use of these scooters in Adelaide and around the world has become the means that many people use to travel short distances … (e-scooters) are here to stay,” Cr Martin said.

“The thing about e-scooters is, we have to find a way to allow them to operate in such a way that they are safe, not only for the riders, but for third parties, including pedestrians and motor vehicles.”

Cr Martin said his preference was for e-scooters to be banned from footpaths.

Cr Martin’s preference is for e-scooters to be kept off footpaths. File picture: Morgan Sette

“The concern that bugs just about everybody is how they are strewn across footpaths or in public places where they present a tripping hazard, especially for people who are vision- impaired,” he said.

“But I am heartened by the knowledge that internationally large cities have found solutions, it is not beyond the capacity of Adelaide and South Australia to equally solve the issues.”

The comments come asnew data from reporting app Snap Send Solve shows there has been a 13 per cent growth in reports of e-scooters clogging up footpaths in the first 10 months of 2023.

“Out of the 151 . 49.7 per cent specifically discuss inappropriate parking on footpaths,” platform chief executive Danny Gorog said.

An image of an e-scooter left on a footpath, sent to Snap Send Solve. Picture: supplied

There has been an increase in reports of e-scooters to Snap Send Solve. Picture: supplied

However, the city’s two e-scooter operators point to increased usage – and an expanded shared e-scooter operating area that now includes parts of Unley, Charles Sturt and Norwood, Payneham and St Peters.

Combined Beam and Neuron have about e-scooters available for hire, as part of a long-running trial in this state that started in 2019 and has been extended several times, most recently to next April.

“We’ve seen an increase in trips taken on an e-scooter year-on-year,”Beam spokesman Michelle Leong said.

“The average rider in Adelaide rides for 11 minutes, with data showing riders are choosing e-scooters over cars especially when faced with shorter trips under 5 km.”

Neuron Mobility’s Jayden Bryant said Friday to Sunday “between 4pm and 9pm” was the most popular time to ride.

“On weekdays the peak time for trips is between 4pm and 7pm,” he said.

The State Government is currently reviewing legislation relating to personal mobility devices with a consultation report expected to be publicly released before the end of the year.