Gold Coast council puts squeeze on Lime scooters ahead of proposed rollout

Gold Coast City Council has declared war on controversial community electric scooter hire service Lime before the company even rolls on to the Glitter Strip, threatening to seize scooters from the streets.

GOLD Coast City Council has declared war on controversial community electric scooter hire service Lime before the company even rolls on to the Glitter Strip, threatening to seize scooters from the streets.

Lime Scooter riders seriously injured | The Courier-Mail

Lime, which has come under fire over injuries and scooters left littering footpaths since being introduced in Brisbane last month, plans to launch the service on the Coast today.

Lime – a San Francisco-based start-up now worth about $14 billion and active in 130 cities – said it was ‘looking to transform the GC into a hub of cleaner, greener, more accessible transportation’ as it embarked on an Australian rollout. Picture: Lime

But the city council said it had “no knowledge” Lime was coming to town until a media alert went out yesterday.

“They do not have a permit or approval to operate in the city from public land, and the city is also investigating potential development compliance issues,” council transport director Alton Twine said.

“The city is closely monitoring the situation and will take appropriate enforcement action if required, noting that scooters abandoned on public property may be seized.”

The Coast is already plagued with problems from electric mopeds, which cause chaos during Schoolies as teenagers tear up streets and footpaths on the machines.

Gold Coast city council said it had “no knowledge” Lime was coming to town and that the company “does not have a permit or approval to operate in the city from public land”. Picture: AAP/David Clark

In September, Coast Mayor Tom Tate called for a State Government crackdown on e-bikes and skateboards after several near-misses with pedestrians on Surfers Paradise Esplanade.

Leading Brisbane personal injuries lawyer Trent Johnson this month described electric scooters as a ‘nightmare on wheels’ and warned riders could be liable for any injuries during the Lime trial which runs until Monday.

Shine Lawyers solicitor Sarah Grace said she expected the State Government’s decision to legalise the electric scooters would lead to more injuries.

Last week, The Courier-Mail revealed that two Brisbane residents had suffered serious injuries including broken legs after falling from Lime Scooters.

A Lime user crosses the street on a scooter in the Brisbane CBD. Picture: AAP Image/Albert Perez

In New Zealand, hundreds of public insurance claims for injuries have already been lodged in two cities that allowed Lime to operate just a month before they hit Brisbane streets.

In the media alert for its Gold Coast launch, Lime – a San Francisco-based start-up now worth about $14 billion and active in 130 cities – said it was ‘looking to transform the GC into a hub of cleaner, greener, more accessible transportation’ as it embarked on an Australian rollout.

Gold Coast streets and footpaths have also been littered with dumped pushbikes since the council approved community bike hire scheme Mobike last year. Will Lime scooters (pictured) be next? (AAP image, John Gass)

“Lime’s commitment to improving city living and urban transportation infrastructure has transformed travel across the globe, expanding to more than 130 markets and clocking 20 million rides in 18 months,” the company said.

Gold Coast streets and footpaths have also been littered with dumped pushbikes since the council approved community bike hire scheme Mobike last year.

Last week, The Courier-Mail revealed that two Brisbane residents were injured after falling from Lime scooters.