SUNDAY TERRITORIAN EDITORIAL: Electric scooters bringing energy to Darwin’s CBD

Few people can deny the e-scooters have been a huge improvement, making Darwin more accessible. Now it’s time to expand their reach.

THERE would be few people in Darwin who haven’t been tempted to take a quick ride around town on those orange electric scooters.

While e-scooters have been bemoaned by some as polluting streets and being dangerous if operated incorrectly, it turns out they’re a cheap, hassle-free and active way of getting around, and people like them.

It also turns out they’re good for the economy.

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As Griffith University has discovered, people scooting around town are more likely to stop and spend money in local stores than your average motorist.

Data from right here in Darwin has found 90 per cent of users believe scooters have had a positive impact, and this finding is apparently backed up by figures in other cities.

And far from being just a means to get around for tourists and backpackers, it seems locals also appreciate them for allowing faster journeys than on foot.

That’s good news for local businesses and the workers they employ, who see increased trade and greater prominence to potential customers than they otherwise would.

Julian Smith takes a Neuron Scooter for a scoot around the Darwin Waterfront on a holiday from Adelaide. Picture: Che Chorley

Stretches of Darwin’s CBD have long been written off as being quiet and lacking the foot traffic to become thriving retail, entertainment and dining precincts, but the Neuron scooters provide a game-changing opportunity to reinvigorate these spaces.

Doing so will provide greater cultural diversity and economic opportunity for Darwin and the Top End, whose hospitality venues are crying out for more exposure.

By shrinking the travel time between various corners of the CBD, we provide ourselves with more options and flexibility without having to struggle finding a car space.

There is a catch – the range which Neuron allows people to ride scooters is very limited even compared to their Neuron bikes.

They haven’t rolled out to places like the Nightcliff Foreshore and Parap, limiting its usefulness for local residents.

An expansion of the zones would be appreciated.

It would allow market-goers to get to and from Parap on Saturdays, for instance, without clogging up the area’s scarce carparks.

It could help reduce congestion in and around major trip generators, such as at major events across Darwin like Bass in the Grass.

It’s also a lot better for our environment – rather than cars spewing out exhaust fumes, e-scooters are entirely electric and thus keep our air clean and green.

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