“No go zone”: Plea to riders to keep scooters off iconic steps
Scooters have been blamed for damage to the iconic Kellys Steps at Salamanca, but one scooter company says the area is already a no go zone. SEE THE DAMAGE. >>
Tasmania
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CLAIMS e-scooters are damaging historic Kelly’s Steps at Battery Point have prompted the Hobart City Council to consider the installation of security cameras to monitor the site.
Salamanca business owner and founder of the Hobart Parking Action Group Edwin Johnstone said damage to the steps was an ongoing issue.
“It’s chipping the edge of the step off,” Mr Johnstone said.
“If it keeps going this way they’ll have to be replaced.”
Mr Johnstone believed chips and gouge marks in the steps were caused by e-scooters being dragged across the steps.
“Some of the chips are the width of the scooter board,” Mr Johnstone said.
“The width of the marks and the fact there’s purple paint on them makes me think its people dragging their scooters up and down.”
Mr Johnstone said Kelly’s Steps were iconic and should be looked after.
“I walk up and down those steps a couple of times a day,” he said.
“They form part of the Salamanca area, they’re over 180 years old.
“It’s a historic site.”
Mr Johnstone said action should be taken to deter riders from the area.
“There should be a sign put up and Kellys Steps should be made a no go zone,” Mr Johnstone said.
A City of Hobart spokesperson said the council had received reports of damage to the steps and was considering action.
“A report was received last month of damage to Kellys Steps, possibly caused by the dragging of an e-scooter up the stairs,” a council spokesperson said.
“The area surrounding the steps was immediately implemented as a no-ride zone and we’ve been looking at installing CCTV cameras and improved lighting.”
A spokesperson for e-scooter operator Beam said the company was aware of damage alleged to have been caused by vehicles.
“On January 3, council informed both shared e-scooter operators that there had been damage to Kelly’s Steps,” a Beam spokesperson said.
“It was not confirmed that the damage had been caused by shared e-scooters; it was suggested by council that skateboards could also have caused the damage”
The spokesperson said riders were already discouraged from the area.
“Upon notification by council, Beam immediately introduced a No Ride Zone that covered Kelly’s Steps - as well as much of Kelly’s St - leading to the top of the stairs and Kelly’s Ln at the base of the stairs,” the spokesperson said.
“We have not been notified of any further damage since that time.”
On Monday the Hobart council will vote on whether to suspend the e-scooter trial, and whether they should be banned from footpaths.
- Judy Augustine
e-scooter lobbyists for both sides put pressure on councils
Pro and anti e-scooter lobbyists are placing the pressure on Hobart City Council ahead of a vote on Monday to decide the fate of the e-scooter trial.
Firmly in the anti-e-scooter camp is Equal Opportunity Tasmania, which says the e-scooters present a threat to the elderly and people with disabilities.
Tasmanian anti-discrimination commissioner Sarah Bolt said the e-scooters brought enjoyment to a few at the expense of many.
“The use of electronic scooters on Hobart foot paths places many at unnecessary risk of physical or emotional harm,” she said.
“Older persons, people with mobility issues, vision and hearing impairments, small children and people walking their companion on working dogs on leads should not have to compete with electronic scooters.”
However RACT motoring club had declared their allegiance to the pro e-scooter camp, saying the e-scooters have proved a valuable addition to Hobart’s transport mix.
RACT chief advocacy officer Garry Bailey said the e-scooter rules and policies could always be changed and improved in order to minimise risk, rather than scrapped.
Mr Bailey said the rollout had proved popular, and that council should work with the e-scooter companies to ensure the trial ran smoothly.
“What the trial has already shown is that over 50,000 Tasmanians, or 10 per cent of the population, have signed up and embraced a mobility option that is well established in cities around the world,” he said.
“The key to how the two cities manage the scooters is how they integrate with other transport options, the identification of areas where scooters can and can’t be used, educating users and other road and footpath users so safety is paramount, and looking at how road and footpath infrastructure can be improved for all users.”
A Neuron spokesperson said the Hobart trial had an “extremely” high uptake with over 50,000 trips in the first month alone.
The spokesman said that 99.9 per cent of trips were incident free, but that they were working with council to reduce further incidents.
“We are aware that some councillors have expressed concern and have met with them already to try and allay their fears and provide context and data that shows the many benefits of the service, from supporting tourism, boosting the economy, reducing congestion and improving air quality,” the spokesperson said.
“We are conscious that we are only one month into a 12-month trial. We will continue to work with the Council, and the wider community, to adapt our service and integrate our e-scooters into the city in the best possible way.”
- Kenji Sato
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