Melbourne e-scooters to ‘shout’ at riders breaking the law in major tech revamp

E-scooters that will literally “shout” at riders breaking the law are coming to one Aussie city in a major tech revamp.

E-scooters in one Aussie city will start “shouting” at riders breaking the law in a bid to crack down on hooliganism on the streets.

Melbourne has just rolled out a fleet of 25 Lime e-scooters equipped with advanced camera capabilities. The scooters will use real-time footpath detection and audio alerts to crackdown on illegal footpath and tandem riding, the City of Melbourne council has announced.

The “shout” will activate if a scooter ventures outside of its designated zone; for example, a footpath.

Other scooter tech in the works include AI systems to prevent riders from ending a trip without parking correctly, alcohol detection and deterrence systems and a rider verification system to target underage riding.

Deputy Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the audio alert would help crack down on the “hoon element”.

Melbourne e-scooter operators Neuron and Lime are rolling out new tech to improve safety. Picture: Supplied

“We have worked with the providers, Lime and Neuron Mobility, who are rolling out new technology advancements that will deliver safer and more accessible city for all Melburnians,” he said.

“We are also working closely with Victoria Police to ensure the small minority of people doing the wrong thing are held accountable.”

Melburnians have taken up scooters with gusto since they were introduced in February 2021, logging some five million rides.

But Mr Reece said some residents were frustrated with riders breaking the rules.

“We get a lot of complaints at the City of Melbourne,” he said in an interview with 3AW.

“There are people riding on footpaths, you see people in tandem, particularly later in the evening I would say, people not wearing helmets.

“Also, scooters parked in random locations, blocking footpaths, higgledy-piggledy as my mother would say.”

Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece is targeting the ‘hoon element’. Picture: David Caird

A pilot with in-app communication to direct riders to designated parking zones is also under way on Swanston and Elizabeth streets and in Jolimont.

The council said the app had already reduced complaints by 55 per cent.

It is also investigating on-street parking stations and physical line markings on footpaths to create clearly marked zones to hire and return e-scooters.

Lime and Neuron are exploring technology to create designated e-scooter parking areas.

The council is in discussions with other inner-Melbourne councils to potentially expand the e-scooter scheme.

Originally published as Melbourne e-scooters to ‘shout’ at riders breaking the law in major tech revamp