“Fruitless”: Push to suspend e-scooter trial would not have had support, says Alderman
One of the Hobart aldermen behind the initial push to suspend the e-scooter trial says new measures to be implemented should have been considered from the get go. DETAILS. >>
Hobart & South
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Plans to suspend Hobart’s e-scooter trial while further consultation was undertaken was scrapped ahead of Monday’s council meeting because the move likely wouldn’t have had enough support, a Hobart alderman says.
Aldermen Marti Zucco and Jeff Briscoe had intended to have councillors vote on whether they should hit pause on the trial, following a series of complaints and concerns around the behaviour of scooter riders.
But before the meeting, councillors received an amended motion, with the condition the trial be suspended removed.
“The first intent was to throw a hand grenade at these operators to understand there’s a serious issue,” Mr Zucco said.
“We had most likely three or four members who would have supported it, it would be fruitless to put up a motion that would be lost.
“I‘ve been in politics long enough to understand you’ve got be able to count to seven.”
Instead the council voted unanimously to undertake further consultation with the community, including the antidiscrimination commissioner, reduce the allowed maximum speed of the scooters and introduce a zero-tolerance policy for bad behaviour.
Mr Zucco said the measures should have been considered before the trial began.
“There wasn’t due diligence done prior to the implementation of these scooters,” he said.
“The extensive motion that was put up on Monday covers all if not most of the concerns.
“Will it resolve all the issues? That is up to Neuron and Beam to be good corporate citizens to consider the welfare and safety of our citizens before their profits.”
City of Hobart CEO Kelly Grigsby said consultation as well as risk, legal, sustainability and engineering assessments that shaped the trial were in progress up to 18 months before it began.
“This consultation included advice from the Access Advisory Committee and the Hobart Active Transport Committee as well as continuous engagement with the state government and Tasmania police,” Ms Grigsby said.
Ms Grigsby said feedback was welcome throughout the trial.
“As in other cities who have introduced e-scooters, the City of Hobart trial itself allows for continuous consultation, change and improvement.
“What we are experiencing in Hobart is the same in all cities that have introduced e-scooters, we are finding the balance between individual rider responsibility, rule enforcement and public safety.”
Council on the Ageing Tasmania CEO Sue Leitch said the organisation welcomed the opportunity for consultation.
“We’re not against e-scooters per se,” Ms Leitch said.
“We think there needs to be a more considered approach to how they’re used, how they’re parked, what footpaths are suitable for their use, where there needs to be better control of speed and how it fits into the broader transport strategy.”
Alderman blasts ‘idiot’ parents putting escooter trial at risk
The e-scooter trial in Hobart will continue after a motion to suspend it was revised at the eleventh hour before the Hobart council meeting, with councillors voting in favour of a series of measures to address concerns.
Ald Marti Zucco and Ald Jeff Briscoe originally moved the e-scooter trial be suspended while further consultation was undertaken, but instead debated a revised motion removing the requirement to put the trial on hold.
Among eight recommendations, the aldermen moved the council consult with disability and senior groups, that footpaths be audited, that the maximum speed be lowered and for a zero-tolerance policy be implemented.
Ald Zucco said he’d been contacted by a large number of ratepayers concerned about the scooters.
“I lost count of over 100 emails I’ve received, I’ve had constant emails and test messages of people raising concerns in respect of the e-scooters,” Ald Zucco said on Monday.
Ald Zucco said too many people weren’t playing by the rules, which is why a zero-tolerance policy was needed.
“In my point of view, that there send a message to those idiots and there are plenty of idiots that are using them,” Ald Zucco said.
“I’ve seen photos of young kids of around four and five, holding on the cup of a scooter, with a parent riding with it, both of them not wearing helmets.
“That demonstrates to me that either the parents is an idiot or we haven’t, no one has put forward to all the people about what the regulations are.”
Ald Briscoe believed more work needed to be done.
“Neither Ald Zucco or myself are the fun police, I’ve used the scooters and I don’t know if Ald Zucco has but I can see there are opportunities for an enjoyable ride,” Ald Briscoe said.
“However having potentially 600 scooters on our roads and particularly our footpaths, was a big mistake on our council’s part.
“We have received heaps of emails from people who have disabilities, who have had near misses and are frightened of using our footpaths.”
City of Hobart CEO Kelly Grigsby said a risk assessment had already been undertaken.
“There was certainly an external consultant hired by the City of Hobart some time back,” Ms Grigsby said.
“It was an independent study that looked at safety and other risk factors.”
Cr Helen Burnet said the council needed to hammer in the message around bad behaviour.
“There was a trial in Auckland where speed, not wearing helmets and alcohol related injuries were the reasons for 26 per cent of the injuries,” Cr Burnet said.
“They didn’t have to wear helmets, we have to wear helmets, it’s illegal not to wear helmets, it’s illegal to go fast in certain areas and it’s illegal to be intoxicated.
“This isn’t really all on the shoulders of the Hobart city council, this is about personal responsibility as well.
“I wouldn’t want to see elected members micro managing.”
A second motion put forward by Cr Bill Harvey that the council commit to the development of infrastructure for separate bike and scooter lanes was carried 11-1.
E-scooter company Beam Australian and New Zealand’s general manager Tom Copper said he was thankful the council was continuing the trial.
“We acknowledge the need to further educate the public on safe riding and parking and are committed to working alongside all stakeholders in educating riders on the riding rules and state legislation, and in enforcing compliance on our e-scooters,” Mr Cooper said.
“Beam has launched a ’Ride Kind’ campaign this month to educate riders, and has employed additional Safety Ambassadors on the streets to educate riders.”
The motion was carried unanimously.
E-scooter companies make final plea to Council
Neuron and Beam have made their final plea to Hobart City Council before it votes on whether or not to slam the brakes on the e-scooter trial on Monday.
In a joint letter to council the companies have offered to make some concessions in order to reduce the number of crashes and hooliganism on e-scooters.
These bargaining chips include more slow and no-go zones, a three-strike ban on poor parkers, a footpath audit, and doubling the number of workers on the ground.
Their list also includes more safety ambassadors, a working group with community representatives, and immediate suspensions for tandem riding and helmet shunning.
“In response to concerns raised by elected members of Hobart City Council, scooter trail operators, Neuron and Beam have come together to reaffirm their commitment to working with elected members, council officials, community groups, other stakeholders, and the public to ensure the success of the trial,” the letter reads.
Confederation of Greater Hobart Business chairwoman Louise Bloomfield said council seemed bent on supporting the trial, regardless of the danger to ratepayers.
Ms Bloomfield said she thought council’s judgment was clouded by the $100,000 in revenue they are expected to earn from the e-scooter revenue per year.
“There are 100,000 reasons why HCC’s response needs to be scrutinised profoundly. The conflict of interest is bone grinding, not least for the unlucky pedestrians,” she said.
$100,000 is being paid to HCC by the E-scooter vendors. We are seeing this conflict of interest playout in a failure to take reasonable care and concern for its ratepayers’ safety.”
However Tasmanian Small Business Council executive officer Robert Mallett said it would be an over-reaction to abandon the e-scooter trial because of the misdemeanours of a few.
Mr Mallett said the trial was on the whole a “roaring success” with over 100,000 trips in Hobart alone.
“From a small business perspective, it’s also clear to see that ride share e-scooters are a fantastic initiative,” Mr Mallett said.
“While it is too early for concrete economic stimulus stats here in Tasmania – anecdotally they have already provided a wonderful boost for many businesses in the CBDs and inner suburbs of both Hobart and Launceston.”
The motion to suspend the e-scooter trial will be put forward by Aldermen Briscoe and Zucco, who both want to see them banned from footpaths.
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