Lime e-scooters riding out of the Adelaide CBD — but purple and yellow competitors are coming in

Lime e-scooters have been squeezed out of the CBD, replaced by two new operators that will bring up to 1000 new scooters to Adelaide streets — double the number currently allowed.

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Lime electric scooters have been given the boot from the CBD.

Adelaide City Council on Thursday announced Lime had not won a permit to continue operating its green e-scooters on city streets.

Instead, Singaporean company Beam and Australia start-up RIDE were granted permission to each bring up to 500 scooters each to Adelaide for the next six months.

Lime says the move has left it “sour” and has written to the council’s chief executive Mark Goldstone, asking for an independent review.

“We are also concerned about the process undertaken as part of the expressions of interest,” Lime’s director of government relations Mitchell Price wrote in his letter.

Lime Scooters staff Karan Chopra and Zak Bishop. Picture: Tait Schmaal

“In order to ensure public safety and the integrity of the EOI process, Lime requests that a new trial does not begin until an urgent independent review of the entire process has taken place and the report provided to the elected members of council.”

Mr Goldstone ruled out a review, saying he had “every confidence” in the process.

The council’s operations director, Beth Davidson-Park, said Lime would be asked to remove its scooters by Monday, April 15, ready for the new operators to move in.

She could not say if Lime would have the opportunity to reapply for a permit after six months.

“The first trial clearly showed e-scooters are a convenient form of transport, with more than 140,000 trips recorded and we’re confident that they will continue to be popular as Beam and Ride commence operations next week,” Ms Davidson-Park said.

Natasha Taylor of Hallett Cove, Akram and Ayman Kasim of Woodville riding the Lime Scooters for the first time in Adelaide in February, 2019. Picture: AAP Image/Morgan Sette

“The e-scooters will be available throughout the city and the operators have also advised council they will be hiring local employees, which is good news.”

According to council documents, the two successful companies must each operate a minimum of 50 scooters and up to 500, totalling as many as 1000. This is double the number allowed under the initial trial done by Lime.

Four operators were short-listed following an expressions of interest process, and each had to demonstrate how speed, braking effectiveness and parking now and in the future would be managed.

The e-scooter permit is limited to the city and is bounded by the River Torrens and West, North, South and East terraces.

If they go outside the geo-fenced area or into Rundle Mall, where they are not permitted, the e-scooters notify the user and safely slow to a stop.

RIDE e-scooters are coming to the Adelaide CBD. Picture: Sarah Matray

The second trial will end in mid-October, which will determine whether e-scooters should become permanent.

Lime has now called for an independent review of Adelaide City Council’s scooter decision process after failing to extend their permit.

“Council asked Lime to make their scooters stop suddenly at the edge of the service zone, which would have put our riders and members of the community in danger so we drastically decreased the speed,” Mr Price said.

He said Lime had worked closely with the council and State Government throughout the trial to mitigate issues.

“City Council has placed 250 jobs on the chopping block, which is why it is imperative this process is reviewed,” he said.

Lime scooters being used at Fringe time. Picture Dean Martin

Customers who have pre-loaded credits onto their Lime account could contact customer service via the app for a full refund.

Beam chief executive Alan Jiang said the company was “over the moon” to bring its purple fleet of e-scooters to Adelaide.

Mr Jiang said local jobs would be created because people would be needed to remove and charge scooters overnight.

“We believe that our focus on and investment in safety will be something the people of Adelaide will notice and come to really appreciate,” Mr Jiang said.

RIDE’s chief executive Tom Cooper said he was “thrilled” to secure a permit and would work in conjunction with Adelaide’s EcoCaddy, which would collect the e-scooters, creating about 30 jobs between them.