Bars, restaurants, train stations, stadiums among Brisbane’s most popular e-scooter spots

As tougher penalties for riders come into force, the most popular e-scooter routes in Brisbane have been revealed.

Howard Smith Wharves and South Bank top the lists for Brisbane’s most popular e-scooter routes and favoured spots to jump on and off e-scooters.

New penalties have taken effect for e-scooter speeding, not wearing a helmet, riding while intoxicated, riding while using a mobile phone and having two or more riders on one scooter.

Neuron scooted into Brisbane in August 2019 and since then riders have racked up almost four million trips across eight million kilometres, the average rider travelling for 13 minutes across 2km.

Lorenz Villalba from Bowen Hills (left) and Jairaldine Cruz from Springfield (right) scooting at Howard Smith Wharves - Brisbane’s top e-scooter spot. Picture: Richard Walker

The most frequented routes for Brisbane riders centred on Howard Smith Wharves, QUT Gardens Point, South Bank, Eagle Street Pier, Suncorp Stadium, and The Gabba.

The most popular areas to start and end e-scooter journeys included Howard Smith Wharves, The Wheel of Brisbane, Goodwill Bridge, King George Square and Victoria Bridge.

Neuron recently commissioned a report its own economic and environmental impacts.

Queensland Economic Advocacy Solutions economist Nick Behrens said Neuron e-scooters saved 777,000 car journeys in the past year, equating to almost 200 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Mr Behrens calculated two in every three Neuron rides resulted in riders spending money at Brisbane businesses.

“The total was $116.7 million into the Brisbane economy, so Neuron riders have contributed 6.4 cents in every $100 in Brisbane economic activity,” he said.

Mr Behrens also addressed common concerns linked with e-scooters.

“In terms of where an e-scooter is left, the technology is imminent where Brisbane City Council can geo-fence where the scooters can be left through GPS, so we can tidy up where you find them,” he said.

“With the safety element, the difference between shared e-scooters and a scooter bought privately is that shared e-scooters cannot have their maximum speed of 25km/h altered.”

Neuron Mobility regional manager Richard Hannah said e-scooters were having positive financial and environmental impacts.

“We’re delighted that the vast majority of our Brisbane riders – plus an increasing number of local businesses and venues – have recognised, and are benefiting, from the positive impact e-scooters are making to the economy.”

Brisbane City Council declined to comment.

TOP 10 ROUTES

1. CBD to Howard Smith Wharves

2. QUT Gardens Point to South Bank

3. CBD to South Bank across the Victoria Bridge CityLink Cycleway

4. Central Station to Suncorp Stadium Milton

5. Eagle Street Pier to George Street along the CityLink Cycleway

6. The Gabba to Kangaroo Point

7. Fortitude Valley Train Station to Newfarm

8. CBD to Toowong along the Bicentennial Bikeway

9. West End to the CBD

10. Newstead to Fortitude Valley

TOP 10 START AND END STATION

1. Howard Smith Wharves

2. South Bank Parklands – The Wheel of Brisbane

3. South Bank Parklands – Goodwill Bridge

4. QUT Gardens Point

5. Fortitude Valley Train Station

6. King George Square

7. Victoria Bridge

8. Elizabeth St

9. Edward St

10. Ann St