City of Sydney to vote on whether to support e-scooter trial in CBD

Off the back of a successful trial period in Wollongong, City of Sydney will debate whether to introduce e-scooters across the CBD, joining the likes of Melbourne and Brisbane.

City of Sydney will vote on whether to support an e-scooter trial in Sydney’s CBD.

Off the back of a successful trial period in Wollongong, City of Sydney will debate whether to introduce e-scooters across the CBD, joining the likes of Melbourne and Brisbane.

Liberal councillor Shauna Jarrett has put forward a notice of motion for next Monday’s meeting, calling for a report on how City of Sydney can “participate in an e-scooter trial”.

It follows a previous motion tabled by Ms Jarrett last year, asking councillors to support City of Sydney participating in the NSW Government’s e-scooter trial.

Instead, the motion was amended, and requested the CEO to monitor the progress of e-scooter trials in other locations over a 12-18 month period.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Ms Jarrett was encouraged by “some very positive findings” from Wollongong – which adopted the trial in September – about the benefits of e-scooters in urban areas.

City of Sydney councillor Shauna Jarrett has tabled the notice of motion pushing for e-scooters in Sydney’s CBD. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I am bringing these positive results to the attention of the council to see if their attitude … has changed, given the positive results Wollongong has seen to their environment, use of cars and increased local spending and small business support,” she said.

According to council papers, about 30,000 e-scooter trips from Wollongong resulted in a purchase from a local business “either immediately before or after a rider’s journey”.

It has resulted in an estimated $200,000 of incremental spend at local restaurants and businesses in Wollongong alone.

If introduced by council, riders would be required to use the e-scooters on roadways and are prohibited from footpaths.

The papers also indicate the Wollongong trial saw 45,000km of car trips replaced by e-scooter rides which “saved approximately six tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Ms Jarrett is confident e-scooters would suit Sydney CBD, “particularly with the new cycleways” which she said “don’t get used very often by bicycles”.

She continued: “So let’s use the paths for e-scooters which have such a positive flow on results”.

Latest version Lime Scooter. Photo Lachie Millard

Despite a high-volume of e-bikes scattered across Sydney’s streets, Ms Jarrett firmly believes e-scooters are easier to use, and would attract more people.

And while there have been volume issues emanating from Melbourne’s use of electric bikes and scooters, Ms Jarrett said communicating with operators was important and council could engage with specialised bike staff to resolve these problems.

Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said the organisation supports a trial of e-scooters in the City of Sydney and agreed with Ms Jarrett about operators needing to prove its scooters “don’t end up scattered inconveniently around the city”.

“It would address the current unregulated system, which involves safety risks for e-scooter users and pedestrians alike,” he said.

“We are satisfied … operators can limit the speed of the scooters combined with technology that means they can only operate in certain geographic areas.”

While her initial move for a trial was knocked back last year, Ms Jarrett said Lord Mayor Clover Moore and her team “should talk the talk less” and actually enable residents, visitors and workers the ability to “enjoy the benefits” as evidenced in Wollongong.

As per the council papers, a report by e-scooter operator Neuron between September 29 and November 13 indicated the incident level had remained low and in line with expectations.