Beam reveals that it is unlikely to bring e-scooters back to Burnie
Last year, an e-scooter company announced it would be pulling out of a city and moving to a “seasonal model”. But now it looks like that pause is becoming a permanent one.
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Fans of e-scooters in Burnie are set to be bitterly disappointed as the form of transport will unlikely return to the city.
In June, Beam announced it would remove its e-scooters from the streets of Burnie a year after commencing a trial.
At the time, the company said it would look at a seasonal model with e-scooters operating in Burnie during the warmer months.
However, Beam has now quashed that idea.
“Our focus is currently on ensuring a smooth transition in the City of Hobart from a dual-operator city to a single-operator, following which we are certainly interested in bringing micromobility to more cities,” a Beam spokesperson said.
“We currently do not have plans to recommence shared e-scooter operations in Burnie; however, we are actively exploring ways to bring micromobility to those who want it.”
Burnie Mayor Teeny Brumby said she was content that no e-scooters were available for hire in the city.
“The council does not have an opinion on e-scooters returning to Burnie, and the matter really depends on the financial viability of any business that may wish to consider this. “E-scooters, along with other similar offerings, do present an environmentally sustainable mode of transport, which the council encourages in an effort for us all to be more environmentally responsible.
“If such an opportunity did arise in the future to consider the re-establishment of an e-scooter
service, our recent experience with Beam means that we would be well prepared to consider this, having completed the initial trial within the city.”
Beam currently operates e-scooter operations in Launceston and Hobart.
Around the same time operations in Burnie paused, the Devonport City Council announced Beam had been selected to conduct a 12-month e-scooter trial.
However, the trial has yet to begin, and no further details about its potential start have emerged.
At the time of the announcement, the council said that the e-scooters would be restricted to shared pathways in Devonport.
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