Opinion: Regulation is not the way forward for scooter trial

Lime scooters are whizzing happily around Brisbane while bureaucrats busy themselves assessing how to suitably regulate the blossoming industry. Here’s a thought – just leave it be, writes Steve Baxter.

THE sight of Lime scooters and their happy riders whizzing around Brisbane’s CBD and inner suburbs has provided a refreshing summer zest to the capital.

If you have not ventured into the city since November 15, when they started operating, I encourage you to go in, have a look and, even better, hop on one and have a ride.

Police will no longer issue cautions for reckless scooter riders

Two seriously injured scooter riders say they should not be banned

You won’t be alone as the public seems to be voting with their feet (or thumbs – which is how you control the scooter power) and signalling that they want them here to stay, although I have not seen any data to indicate if the trial has met Lime’s expectation.

Of course there have been some negative stories. Some have been some misused – thrown into the river, hung off bridges and the like – and I am even sure that some people have breached traffic regulations on them (so what).

There have also been, according to an article in this paper last week, 74 complaints.

The complaints were “mainly about speed, footpath clutter, near misses and inappropriate use”.

Mark and Liz Ellis from Melbourne riding the Lime scooters for the first time. AAP image/ John Gass

I am not sure if that is a lot or not compared to complaints about bicycles and other forms of conveyance, but the numbers will form part of Brisbane City Council’s evaluation of whether to allow a scooter scheme to operate permanently in the city.

The process is currently underway but I was dismayed when I read of a council spokeswoman saying that “if the trial was successful the council would move to a ‘formal, open and transparent process’ to choose a permanent electric scooter scheme for the city”.

What? Does the council (the conflicted operator of City Cycle by the way) really plan to pick a winner or small set of winners for this? If this process does anoint a set of winners what regulations will be used to prevent competition? (Maybe they can sell e-scooter plates?)

Haven’t we learnt yet where this ends? Why does government need to pick a commercial operator/set of operators as opposed to setting the framework to allow them and a competitive market to develop? We have seen what encroaching regulation does, the Taxi industry is a fine example of the poor consumer outcomes that inevitably follow.

A Lime Scooter in the middle of the footpath on Leichhardt St. Picture: AAP image/ John Gass

Will there be issues with e-scooters? Sure there will and there already are. What if they litter footpaths (assumedly against some ordnance)? Answer: impound them. What if people fall off them (like they do bikes)? Answer: the rider should seek medical assistance.

Set up an equal opportunity environment and let the entrepreneurs compete.

Do we need to let the perfect and complaint free be the enemy of the good? No we don’t. Trying too hard to make something perfect can actually prevent us from making it simply good.

Do we want to do something other than just cars and buses? Yes. I see it as an innovative solution that people appear to like, so why are we trying to get in its way?

How about we start 2019 by trying to err on the side less regulation and interference in a market – not more. That might be a good way forward.

Steven Baxter is ...