Electric rides may be classed as motorcycles

HOT on the heels of the oBike fiasco, a popular US shared scooter company has hit a hurdle before its shared system even rolls out in Melbourne.

HOPES for a shared electric scooter scheme in central Melbourne face a major regulatory hurdle even before the first powered two-wheelers are rolled out.

Hot on the heels of the oBike fiasco, Californian company Lime has confirmed that it is looking at setting up operations for dockless scooters, but hopes to avoid the same issues.

The company also offers bicycles and electric-assist bikes, but because its 250-watt American scooters usually have a top speed of more than 23kmh, users would need a Victorian motorcycle licence and helmet to jump on board.

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Lime Australia regional general manager Anthony Fleo said the aim was to have different offerings according to the city’s needs.

Lime electric scooters are being rolled out across the United States. Pic: Lime

“We’re certainly aware of the different regulations that are in place,’’ Mr Fleo said.

“We do have a multi-model fleet and that gives us some options to meet the different markets.

Lime and another operator, Bird, are rolling out thousands of battery-powered scooters in dozens of cities across the United States including some on university campuses.

Lime Australia is now in negotiations with three councils — Melbourne, Yarra and Port Phillip.

A man rides a Lime shared dockless electric scooter along Venice Beach. Pic: Getty Images

Mr Fleo said he was aware of the dockless oBike debacle and said that the electric scooters were usually removed each night for charging and said the company would closely maintain its fleet.

“But our intention is to work with councils and the community and be on top of our operations.’’

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said safety on Victorian roads was the top priority.

“We need to get the balance right — that’s why VicRoads is looking at how electric scooters can best fit in with our existing transport network,’’ Mr Donnellan said.

Lime electric scooters have a range of about 32km.

Any electric scooter in Victoria which has a power output of more than 200 watts or can travel faster than 10kmh has be registered as a motorcycle.

VicRoads director Roger Chao echoed the minister’s comments and that the scooters, in their current form, would be classified as motorcycles.

Even if Australian scooters are lower powered, it is expected that riders would still need bicycle helmets.

The Bird/Lime electric scooter abuse in downtown San Jose is real. pic.twitter.com/HBwtDUxJ6z

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Mr Fleo said Melbourne had good bike lane infrastructure which was improving all the time.

“I think that E-scooters are best used in bike lanes, out of the way of pedestrians and not necessarily in the road.’’

No pricing has been set for any of the three models in Australia. In the US, electric scooters cost $US1 to unlock and 15USc every minute to ride. The e-scooters have a range of about 32km.

Lime electric scooters are popular in the United States. Pic: Lime

No timetable has been set for Lime starting operations but Mr Fleo said “it would fit well in summer’’.

“If we can get a pilot program up and running by then, that would be great.’’

Lime is cashed up after Uber and Google-parent company Alphabet pumped in $US335 million into the business in July.

@IanRoyall