Electric scooter trial could supercharge Sydney’s economy

Long-held government opposition to a trial of electric scooters could be about to change amid calls for a trial of the devices in Western Sydney.

E-scooter enthusiasts are hoping the state’s new transport minister will finally allow the devices to operate legally in Sydney.

Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger is calling on new Transport Minister Rob Stokes to allow a trial of the scooters at Sydney Olympic Park.

His calls are echoed by Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou, who said the Sydney CBD would also benefit.

Zack D'Mello, 18, is joining a push for an e-scooter trial at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: Tim Hunter

Former transport minister Andrew Constance was opposed to e-scooters throughout his tenure, which ended this week, because of concerns about their safety and littering from rented devices.

Mr Constance also cancelled a trial earlier this year.

“The former transport minister is moving on and we need to move on with electric scooters,” Mr Borger said.

“People are voting with their feet and using them, whether they’re allowed to or not.

“The benefits of the trial are that we can work out how to use transport effectively and reduce risk.

“And the best spot to do that is in a place with wide open spaces and endless footpaths like Sydney Olympic Park.”

Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger is pushing for scooters to be introduced.

The devices can travel as fast as 65km/h and have a range of 80km. They are allowed to operate in Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane, while Victoria has recently brought in a trial.

It is illegal to use them on NSW public roads.

NSW Police have handed out only 24 fines totalling $1804 since 2014 for riding scooters and other unauthorised devices on public land, according to Revenue NSW.

In March the NSW Productivity Commissioner recommended there be a trial of the devices as a way to generate economic activity and bring fun back to the city.

Mr Nicolaou said they “improve productivity for city workers by reducing travel times and free up space by taking commuters off roads and public transport, helping with Covid-safe travel”.

“The e-bike hire system was poorly implemented leaving bikes scattered everywhere but scooters could be more easily stored out of the way and possibly collected by hire companies each evening,” he said.

“They have been popularly used in dozens of overseas cities and are more female friendly than e-bikes, able to be ridden in a skirt/dress and not requiring the skill of riding a bike.”

Last year the National Transport Commission recommended e-scooters be allowed on footpaths capped at speed limit of 10km/h and on bike paths and residential streets at 25km/h in all Australian cities.

Wentworth Point’s Zach D’Mello, 18, said a trial at Sydney Olympic Park would prove popular.

“It would be a useful mode of transport compared to going via car or even using a bus to get around,” he said.

“It really seems like a major grey area here because I’ve talked to people who ride scooters and they’ve had conversations with police, and the police say that they’re completely fine with it and they actually see it as a good way of transportation.”

Mr Stokes, who was sworn as Transport Minister on Wednesday, declined to comment.

Wentworth Federal Liberal MP Dave Sharma and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore have previously been supportive of a trial.

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