E-scooter complaints jump as hazards block inner-city Melbourne footpaths

More than 1000 complaints have been made this year about e-scooters clogging up Melbourne footpaths amid a slew of dangers regularly encountered by pedestrians.

More than 1000 complaints have been made this year about e-scooters clogging up Melbourne footpaths, with new photos showing the hazards regularly encountered by pedestrians.

New data from reporting app Snap Send Solve showed a steady increase in the number of gripes since the rental electric-powered two-wheelers hit central Melbourne streets almost two years ago.

Complaints became so common that the app bosses had to set up a separate category for people wanting to lodge problem scooter reports.

Snap Send Solve chief executive Danny Gorog said the number of e-scooter reports was up 30 per cent already this year.

“We’ve had a few in the river and they’re just everywhere.

“Overseas I’ve used e-scooters in European cities and you can only get off them in certain areas, like docking zones,’’ he said.

More than 1000 complaints have been made this year about e-scooters clogging up Melbourne pathways. Credit: Snap Send Solve

The controversial e-scooter trial across inner city Melbourne first launched in late 2021. Credit: Snap Send Solve

The controversial trial of the hire scooters in the innercity municipalities of Melbourne, Yarra and Port Phillip began in late 2021.

Last month (October) it was announced that the trial would continue for at least another six months.

The state government said it wanted to collect more data from the two operators Neuron and Lime.

An earlier trial extension, in May this year, also included new road rules for users.

The two companies say compliance is high but e-scooters are still being left in dangerous locations or riders are doubling up, or not using helmets provided.

Hospitals have also reported high numbers of scooter riders presenting with impact injuries at their emergency and trauma centres.

The new statistics comes as it was confirmed that a complaint against Yarra Council by a disability advocate over blocked footpaths was headed to VCAT this month.

Snap Send Solve founder Danny Gorog said the number of e-scooter reports was up 30 per cent already this year. Source: Supplied.

Shane Hryhorec, managing director of Push Mobility, said the rights of people with disabilities were being compromised by cluttered footpaths and blocked entrances.

And Mr Hryhorec said he believed the number of badly parked e-scooters was higher than the total of the Snap Send Solve reports.

“A lot of people have just given up reporting because nothing actually happens,’’ Mr Hryhorec said.

“There doesn’t seem to be any reaction.’’

A Neuron spokesperson said its e-scooters had been embraced by Melburnians.

“Melbourne is one of the busiest cities worldwide for e-scooters with over three million trips and over 5.5m kilometres travelled on Neuron.

“Feedback has been extremely positive and the vast majority of people ride responsibly, with over 99.99 per cent of trips ending safely and without incident.’’

The company said its parking assistant technology improve parking compliance in parts of Melbourne where designated parking stations were operating.

Badly parked e-scooters consistently block pathways. Credit: Snap Send Solve

Badly parked e-scooters are causing hazards to pedestrians and people with disabilities across Melbourne. Credit: Snap Send Solve

“We take parking compliance very seriously, and are actively educating our users to park in the safest and most considerate way.’’

Victoria Walks executive officer Ben Rossiter said talk of improving the parking of the e-scooters had produced no noticeable difference.

“They’re everywhere where they shouldn’t be. You just have to walk around the CBD and they’re all over the place and a real hazard especially for the elderly and people with impaired vision,’’ Dr Rossiter said.

“They’re making the city not a pleasant place to walk around.

“We have this ridiculous situation where e-scooters must park on footpaths which means most are illegally ridden on them to park.

“We need mandatory on road parking spots because ‘park anywhere’ clearly isn’t working.’’

Mr Gorog said the operators could do more with the technology.

“They could go ‘you can’t stop here’ and you have to take it to a corner or some designated space.’’

“But it’s in their interests in making it really easy in getting on and off, so I get that as well.’’