Beam wants to trial e-scooters along Adelaide’s metropolitan coastal paths

E-scooters have become a recognisable sight all around the CBD - now one of the operators, Beam, wants to extend the trial to the path running along our metropolitan coastline.

Beam has proposed a coastal trial zone for e-scooters extending from Port Adelaide and Semaphore along the SA Coast Park to Brighton. Picture: Supplied.

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Electric scooter company Beam has asked the mayors of four Adelaide seaside councils to allow it to operate along the coastal area from Semaphore to Brighton.

Beam has proposed a six-month trial that would see 500 scooters deployed in a zone taking in the Coast Park’s 3m-wide shared pathway and tourist attractions in the Port Adelaide Enfield, Charles Sturt, West Torrens and Holdfast Bay council areas.

In his pitch to the councils, Beam’s head of public affairs Brad Kitschke said the creation of an e-scooter zone would be a perfect way to showcase popular beachside suburbs and their attractions.

“It would also attract tourists and others to the coastal area, which is heavily populated by restaurants, historical sites and other attractions,” Mr Kitschke said.

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll is not open to expanding the current CBD e-scooter trial zone or approving any further areas of operations that join that zone until the conclusion of the Adelaide Council trial.

Mr Kitschke says the minister has advised he would look at proposals from councils and e-scooter operators “that serve a unique area which does not join the area of operation of the City of Adelaide trial, and which is in the public interest”.

The trial would allow councils to consider how e-scooters might be deployed long-term in other areas and gauge community feedback before any further extension was considered.

While Beam would prefer to launch the trial across the four-council zone, the e-scooter company is happy to consider individual segments if agreement of all councils cannot be reached.

So far, the idea has received a qualified welcome.

West Torrens Mayor Michael Coxon, who met with Mr Kitschke on April 26 to discuss the proposal, said: “If the e-scooters are restricted to the coastal tourist route, that’s a trial I would welcome.”

But his council would only vote on whether to approve a trial after it considered an e-scooter report prepared by the administration at its next meeting on May 21.

Charles Sturt Mayor Angela Evans said that while her council was yet to consider the issue, “our aim is for many different people to be able to use and enjoy Coast Park and the proposal will be considered in this light”.

Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Claire Boan said her council was keen to promote and showcase its attractions to tourists and locals alike and was watching with interest the City of Adelaide trial.

“Several e-scooter providers have approached us, but currently there are no formal reports before council on e-scooters,” she said.

Holdfast Bay Mayor Amanda Wilson has also been approached for comment.