- \n
- Shared e-scooters can only be used on roads with 50 km\/h speed limits in the trial area<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- An active transport expert says the trial zone is too small and will impact the trial results<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Trials are being held in five other regional centres around the state<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Sixty scooters have been placed around Kogarah’s town centre and may be ridden in an area between St George’s Hospital, Jubilee Oval and Allawah, Carlton and Kogarah train stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the next 12 months, riders can take the e-scooters to go 20kmh on roads with 50kmh speed limits and won’t be able to mount footpaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Georges River Mayor Sam Elmir says the council is pleased to be first in Sydney’s metro area to roll out the devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s a really great way to showcase progress within our area and provide our residents with a different form of transport to scoot around,” Mr Elmir told ABC Radio Sydney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trial will offer more transport alternatives, Georges River Mayor Sam Elmir says.(Supplied: Georges River Council)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n “People are sick and tired of having to get in their vehicle and go down to the shops to get a bottle of milk or some burgers for lunch.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trials of the scooters were held in 2022 in parklands in Western Sydney, but were not run on any council roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An expert says the trial area is too restricted. (Supplied: Georges River Council)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The trial is one of six being held in NSW, with the others being held in regional areas including Wollongong, Armidale, Forster, Albury and Lake Macquarie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only shared scooters from provider Beam are part of the trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Privately owned scooters are not part of the trial and are still illegal to ride when not on private property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Forced slow-downs to address safety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scooters will only be able to be used on roads with 50kmh speed limits and may not be used on footpaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Geofencing technology in the scooters can detect when they near a footpath, Mr Elmir said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“When they do get close to footpaths they will slow down to a 10kmh walking speed limit,” Mr Elmir said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Some people have some safety concerns but those safety concerns are being alleviated.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scooters cannot be used on footpaths.(Supplied: Georges River Council)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Restrictions reinforce NSW’s ‘laggard’ status<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The relatively small area and number of scooters has an active transport expert worried the trial is too restrictive and will produce negative results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“You’re already reducing the number of prospective users that would be able to benefit,” Griffith University researcher Madison Bland said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“That will also skew the final numbers.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Bland says New South Wales is a “laggard” when it comes to e-scooter adoption and should look to already completed trials in Brisbane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“[In Brisbane] we have an effective system with a dual operator model that has a tried and trusted approach,” Mr Bland said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I think Transport for NSW could go ahead and just roll this out rather than just going ahead with another trial.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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