E-scooter Glenelg trial canned by Holdfast Bay Council
Holdfast Bay Council has decided its coast path is no place for e-scooters and has knocked back a request to host a six-month trial of scooters in the area because of safety concerns.
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Electric scooters won’t be zooming along the Glenelg coast path any time soon.
Holdfast Bay Council at its latest meeting knocked back a plan to conduct a six-month trial of e-scooters along its coastal trail, which would have started in September this year.
The trial, to be undertaken by e-scooter operators RIDE and Neuron, was scheduled to take place over the winter months, however it was cancelled because of COVID-19.
Mayor Amanda Wilson said after the meeting that even in the cooler months, particularly during the pandemic, the coast path had been “packed”.
“We just thought from a safety perspective, a trial over summer caused us concern,” Ms Wilson said.
She said the council was particularly worried about the path between the Broadway Kiosk and the Somerton Surf Life Saving Club, which was only 3m wide.
Ms Wilson added the point of a coast path was to have people exercising – something that doesn’t happen if you’re standing on an e-scooter.
In early March, the council approved a six-month e-scooter trial, which started on March 13.
However, just 10 days after it started, the trial was cancelled due to COVID-19.
It was part of a wider trial from Outer Harbor to Seacliff.
A council report said in those 10 days, 2190 trips were taken in Holdfast Bay.
“The average ride time was 20 minutes and 86 per cent of trips were taken in the afternoon,” the report said.
“There were no reports of incidents or vandalism.”
It said e-scooter operators had already begun partnering with local businesses and community clubs to get more people through their doors.
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Meanwhile, the council has had a response from Police Commissioner Grant Stevens to its request in April, for increased bike patrols on the weekends on the coast path, “to deter cyclists from speeding”.
A letter from Mr Stevens to the council said police were aware of the council’s concerns and would actively patrol the area, including the deployment of bike patrols.
“Additionally, SAPOL’s Road Policing Section will patrol the area paying attention to cyclists,” Mr Stevens wrote.