Radical e-scooter plan proposed by Melbourne lord mayor candidate

E-scooters are set to be banned from Melbourne’s CBD, but could they be better used in surrounding suburbs? A candidate in the race for lord mayor has a bold idea to repurpose them.

A radical plan for an e-scooter park-and-ride scheme has been proposed for central Melbourne.

Lord mayor candidate Gary Morgan has called for a “sensible and safe” policy which would create parking bays for e-scooters around the edge of the city centre so riders could then take advantage of the free tram zone into the CBD.

Mr Morgan, one of six declared candidates so far for the top job at Town Hall, has come up with the plan after the city council voted to sever its contracts with e-scooter operators Lime and Neuron next month.

The veteran pollster and long-time East Melbourne resident called for new ideas to improve transport infrastructure in inner Melbourne which would improve commuter safety and keep e-scooters off congested footpaths in the Hoddle Grid.

Lord Mayor candidate Gary Morgan has suggested parking zones for e-scooters outside the CBD.

The plan would apply to both privately owned and rental e-scooters, Mr Morgan said told the Herald Sun.

“Commuters on e-scooters and e-bikes should be able to ‘park their ride’ at dedicated zones on the boundaries of the extended Free Tram Zone and seamlessly use the multitude of tram routes that traverse the City of Melbourne,’’ Mr Morgan said.

“Creating a shared mobility zone will help curb road congestion, reduce pollution and provide the growing population of Inner Melbourne with cheap and sustainable transport options.’’

Mr Morgan’s plan would require the City of Melbourne renegotiating its contracts with Lime and Neuron so e-scooters could operate in suburbs around the CBD, such as Carlton, East Melbourne, North Melbourne and Southbank.

Commuters would be able to park their scooters outside the CBD and hop straight on a free tram under Mr Morgan’s suggestion.

It would also enable riders to travel to and from the Port Phillip and Yarra municipalities where the hire scheme is set to continue.

Earlier this week Mr Morgan called for the Collins St bike lanes to be fixed or removed because they were unsafe and not properly integrated.

Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, who is also contesting the October 26 poll, led the council move to scrap e-scooters after a surge in complaints mostly around safety with footpath riding a common danger. Drunk riding and not wearing a helmet also sparked alarm at the council.

The decision prompted Premier Jacinta Allan to call for the council to reconsider its position, questioning why Cr Reece went from spruiking the benefits of e-scooters to outlawing them in a matter of weeks.