Cairns Regional Council against introduction of Beam e-scooters in Cairns

The Cairns Post readers have reacted to whether electric scooters should be introduced to Cairns after a multinational company showed interest. SEE THEIR REACTION

LATEST: THE results are in and the public have voted on whether e-scooters should be introduced into Cairns.

As of Monday afternoon 71 per cent of readers voted they should not be brought to Cairns. While 29 per cent said they should.

Dijo owner Sarah Turner said she was all for the idea.

“I am for anything that brings new and fun things to Cairns,” she said.

“It’s 40 through most of the city, I just think it would be great, it would be fun, it would be another string in the bow.”

Some readers on Facebook were also very passionate.

“After having just been in Townsville and Mackay (both having e-scooters), they are well organised, Jessica O’Kane commented.

Dikshya Gurung rides her e-scooter on the Cirns Esplanade. Picture: Brian Cassey

“Areas are speed restricted and others completely not allowed. Once you enter a restricted zone, they slow down to the designated speed.

“If you go into a scooter free zone, the scooter disables itself until you are in a rideable zone. We had great fun riding alongside our 2 boys on their scooters.”

Multiple readers said it was about time they be introduced.

“I think it’s an excellent idea time for Cairns to get in the times like other states the e-scooters will be great,” Tracey Young said.

While others were extremely against the idea.

“The speed some travel along the Esplanade is terribly dangerous for pedestrians,” Liz Kats commented.

“Are they going to responsible for accidents especially the old and disabled? Is there a speed limit?” Vick Kandiah asked.

EARLIER: A MULTINATIONAL electric scooter company is looking to expand in the Far North but Cairns Regional Council are standing firm on its previous decision not back the plans.

Beam, a company that operates across Australia including Port Douglas has shown interest in expanding.

“Following the success of our operations in Port Douglas, we are looking to expand our footprint within Far North Queensland, including Cairns,” a Beam spokesperson said.

The company has rapidly grown across multiple countries from Malaysia, South Korea and New Zealand.

In 2019 Cairns Regional Council knocked back Lime’s proposal to operate in the CBD.

Cairns Regional Council mayor Bob Manning said while it may work in other places, it is not the right fit for the city.

“Port Douglas is a different story when you are going between people and cars,” he said.

“I think the scooters have a place for it and I think Port Douglas is fine for it because it’s more open road.”

Cr Manning said when it was brought up a couple years ago he voted for the scooters however he has since realised Cairns is not the place for them.

“Council’s position has been and remains at the moment that there will be no scootering,” he said.

Cairns Regional Council mayor Bob Manning at a meeting. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We’ve got to think about the safety of tourists and kids.”

Cr Manning said the dining precinct was built around the fact Cairns is a walking city and that’s how council wanted it to be.

“They can make a submission if they want to and we will look at it but we made a decision not to,” he said.

Some businesses however don’t mind the idea of seeing people whiz around town.

“I don’t mind as long as they don’t use them on the pathways near shopfronts,” Candy Cafe owner Chantelle Kenyon said.

“It gets quite busy and someone can really get hurt.”

Netherlands tourist Jurian De Brouwer said it would be a great addition.

“I don’t think it’s unsafe if you just use them normally and just don’t do reckless things,” he said.

“I think tourists would use it so they don’t have to walk and it’s a fun way to transport yourself around the city”

Cairns Chamber of Commerce CEO Patricia O’Neill said this topic was one they were planning on getting the business community’s opinion on.

“We will take a poll and get business sentiment and what the appetite is to get them available in the CBD,” she said.

“We want to get around the CBD easier, and we’ve got quite a cosmopolitan look now to the dining precinct and obviously we have been approached by the scooter people so we will take our advocacy from what the business community feels on that subject.”

Originally published as Cairns Regional Council against introduction of Beam e-scooters in Cairns