City of Melbourne to scrap contracts with share-hire e-scooter companies
Share-hire e-scooters could be scrapped from the Melbourne CBD after a spike in complaints about the electronic two-wheelers.
The Herald Sun reports the Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece is set to move a motion on Tuesday afternoon to cancel the contracts with e-scooter providers Lime and Neuron.
Any change would not effect privately-owned scooters.
Camera IconA fresh crackdown on e-scooter rules was proposed by City of Melbourne staff just last week. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia
Just last week council management provided elected members with a report recommending a host of new rules to crack down on users of the 1500 scooters currently in use in the city.
“I admit I was a supporter of the e-scooters when they when first started, but I am fed up with the rule breaking and seeing the scooters strewn all over the city like rubbish, cluttering our footpaths and creating a trip hazard and mobility challenges,” Mr Reece said last week.
Camera IconThere are 1500 share-hire e-scooters permitted to be used in Melbourne. NewsWire / Tamati Smith Credit: News Corp Australia
The Herald Sun reports the mayor’s motion on Tuesday is expected to pass.
The Lord Mayor has been contacted for comment.
Mr Reece was sworn in as mayor last month; his predecessor was a supporter of the scooters.
The electric scooters have been subject to a long-running trial overseen by the state government.
In July the state government decided the trial had been successful and from October e-scooters would be permitted to operate permanently, but councils still held the right to enter into contracts with scooter companies.
Camera IconThe lord mayor is expected to move a motion on Tuesday afternoon. NewsWire /Brendan Beckett Credit: News Corp Australia
The City of Port Phillip and the City of Yarra are expected to allow the continuance of e-scooters in their patches.
Hundreds of people have been admitted to Melbourne hospitals as a result of e-scooter crashes in the past six years.
The lord mayor is expected to make his motion at a council committee meeting at 5.30pm on Tuesday.
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