Lime puts brakes on Gold Coast rollout

Controversial electric scooter service Lime has halted its Gold Coast rollout after city council officers seized dozens of scooters from the streets.

CONTROVERSIAL electric scooter service Lime has put the brakes on its Gold Coast rollout on after city council officers seized dozens of scooters from the streets.

As of 9am today, 22 Lime scooters and one Ride scooter has been confiscated from public areas on the Gold Coast.

The council today made good on its threat to confiscate scooters, saying Lime did not have a permit to operate in the city.

Emme McCarthy, 14, from Brisbane tries out the new Lime e-scooters. Photo: Glenn Hampson

Lime, which is trialling the scooters in Brisbane, only launched on the Gold Coast on Friday and vowed to continue to operate in the face of the council threats.

But today, the company retreated from its defiant stance.

“Council has made it explicitly clear that all operators must comply with their request or be subject to impoundment,” said Lime’s director of government affairs, Mitchell Price.

A city spokesman said Lime and RIDE operators were on notice, with any scooters left on public property to be taken and a $649 fine and holding fee issued.

This afternoon Lime’s Director of Government Affairs, Mitchell Price has denied the company will work with the City of Gold Coast Council on smart mobility options for the community, but have ceased operations.

Lime scooters have been set up around Surfers Paradise today.

“The public has demonstrated strong support for an operator which provides a premium and reliable service,” he said.

“We will continue to work with council officials, as we have always done, to ensure that Gold Coast residents have access to first and last mile transport options.

“In consultation with Council, we have decided to temporarily cease operations and “request the council ensure the same standard for other operators who have deployed in similar fashions.”

“Council has made it explicitly clear that all operators must comply with their request or be subject to impoundment.”

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Lime said it intended to continue with its rollout of 60 scooters during the weekend.

Lime’s director of government affairs Mitchell Price accused council of killing potential business opportunities.

Lime director of government affairs Mitchell Price says council is to blame for the rise of unauthorised companies on the Gold Coast. Photo: Glenn Hampson

“In consultation with Council we have decided to temporarily cease operations and request the council ensure the same standard for other operators who have deployed in similar fashion.

“In the coming weeks, we will be holding a number of community focused events to educate residents on Lime’s smart mobility platform.

“Lime is committed to working with City of Gold Coast Council on smart mobility options for the community. The public has demonstrated strong support for an operator which provides a premium and reliable service.

“We will continue to work with council officials, as we have always done, to ensure that Gold Coast residents have access to first and last mile transport options.”

“The council has brought this on themselves, they decided to sit on their hands and do nothing, now that attitude has resulted in us launching our product here and we’ll continue to do so over the coming days,” he said.

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Just tap and go, the e-scooters have been set up ready to ride around Surfers Paradise. Photo: Glenn Hampson

“We will pay any fines that council decides it wants to issue us and we’ll put (the scooters) back on the streets.”

It is the second unauthorised scooter business to spring up this month, leading to concerns others may also have the Gold Coast in their sights, exploiting loopholes to stay out of council’s grip.

RIDE has taken to using local cafes as collection hubs to keep their scooters off public property, a technique Lime indicated it was likely to mimic.

RIDE CEO Aaron LaLux said his trial was going smoothly and the company was “committed” to staying within the council bylaws, despite not formally applying for a permit to operate on public land.

Council officials speak with Lime Director of Government Affairs Mitchell Price following the launch of the e-scooters on the esplanade at Surfers Paradise today. Photo: Talisa Eley

“(It’s) resulted in zero complaints and a 100 per cent retrieval rate of our rides,” Mr LaLux said.

Council’s director of transport and infrastructure Alton Twine said the authority would “come down hard” on any e-scooter businesses looking to dodge the official channels.

“What we don’t accept in the city is operators just turning up, essentially plonking their products down on city streets and footpaths,” he said.

Council said it will consider all proposals at length but indicated it may only choose one business to operate once the matter has been fully considered, in line with the exclusive e-bike agreement currently in place with Mobike.

Gold Coasters take a spin on the new Lime e-scooters now available to hire in Surfers Paradise. Photo: Talisa Eley

Meanwhile locals have largely embraced the technology, with many taking advantage of the devices on the esplanade during yesterday’s hot weather.

Last night more than 90 people had signed a petition on the Lime app calling on council to reconsider its position.

Council said they will not be making any further public statement about electric scooters.