Beam e-scooters were disappointed they weren’t offered a new coastline contract in SA
An e-scooter company left out of the tender process for a new trial of the machines along Adelaide’s coastline says it’s surprised to be overlooked.
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AN international e-scooter company that services the city centre says it is “disappointed” after being overlooked for a contract for Adelaide’s beaches.
Beam says it was surprised not to be asked to tender for the trial of e-scooters along the coast from Outer Harbor to Seacliff given its “exceptional service” in the city.
The Advertiser yesterday reported that two e-scooter providers – Adelaide-based RIDE and Singapore’s Neuron – had secured the contract to trial the shared scooters on the coast.
State Government approval is required before the start of the three-month trial.
Brad Kitschke, head of public affairs for Asia Pacific-based Beam, said the company’s omission was particularly upsetting because it had come up with the idea.
“The trial along the Coast Park Path was our idea – we conceived it, pitched it to councils and led the efforts to advocate for its approval when government was not initially supportive,” he said.
“It is disappointing that Beam’s leadership and innovation has not been recognised.”
Beam and RIDE were awarded contracts for Adelaide’s city centre in March 2019.
The new contract for coastline access was a joint venture for Port Adelaide Enfield, Charles Sturt, Marion and Holdfast Bay councils that will have scooters available for hire from Outer Harbor to Seacliff.
It will cost $1 to unlock and around 30c a minute to use the shared scooters. There will be designated parking stations every 500m along the coast.
A spokesman for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government Minister Stephan Knoll said the Government supported the plan “in principle”. “We are awaiting further information from councils before making a final decision in the new year,” he said.