Extension of Port Adelaide Enfield coastal e-scooter trial on the cards, despite limited early success

An e-scooter trial on Adelaide’s coast could still be extended and further into the suburbs, despite each scooter being used by just one person per day.

Usage of e-scooters from Outer Harbor to West Beach has been less than expected. Picture: Supplied

A trial of e-scooters on the metropolitan coast has been less than popular, with usage at about a third of targets.

But, despite the low take-up rate, the trial could be extended by another 12 months – and further into suburban streets.

In September, western coastal councils announced the resumption of a trial of e-scooters on the path between Outer Harbor and West Beach would.

An earlier trial had been abandoned due to COVID-19.

Port Adelaide Enfield Council construction, design and transport manager Chris Dunn said the trial had, so far, been a limited success due to COVID-19 restrictions and anxiety around health risks.

On average, the trial has resulted in about one trip per scooter per day, well below the benchmark for a financially viable trial of three to four trips per scooter per day.

But Mr Dunn said usage had been increasing recently.

“There were 388 users (on Sunday), compared to an average of 180 users on weekdays in January,” he said.

E-scooters could keep rolling along the western coastline, if a proposal to extend a trial of their usage is approved. Picture: Supplied

Mr Dunn said with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, and a return of warmer weather, it was anticipated e-scooter use would increase over the coming months.

Beam, one of the companies involved in the trial, has been running fewer than 50 scooters along the coast, due to its scooter supply from China being delayed as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

Neuron, the other company in the trial, has been deploying 120 to 140 scooters a day, based on demand.

Both have approval to run up to 250 scooters a day.

Mr Dunn said the companies had indicated the trial could be more successful with an extension to the streets up to and including Military Road. Such a proposal was likely to attract more residents to use the scooters to commute to and from the beach.

Mr Dunn said a possible extension to the eastern end of Semaphore Road, to link up with the Glanville railway station and encourage “multi-modal” travel, was also being considered

The council was due to discuss the matter at its meeting on Tuesday night.

Charles Sturt and West Torrens councils will this month also discuss the trial.