A municipality in Perth has become the second metropolitan local government in WA to test electric scooter rental.
The city of Stirling introduced a 12-month trial period for e-scooter rental in February. Still, the capital’s city council voted in a meeting on Tuesday to raise a two-year trial period for e-scooter sharing. A draft tender document is now being drawn up.
Deputy Mayor Di Bain said that after popping up in every other vibrant city worldwide, e-scooters made their way to Perth.
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“I strongly believe in the benefits of micromobility, and I want to encourage Perth to become a trans-mobile city – it was one of my electoral commitments,” she said.
“I know there are safety concerns, and I encourage the city to put up signage and warn pedestrians that e-scooters now share the streets with them or on the sidewalks.”
Councilors also voted on a recommendation to bring the tender process results back to the municipality before signing agreements with operators and starting the trial.
“Some inner-city local authorities, as well as UWA and the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, have expressed preliminary interest in the possibility of collaborating on a joint trial of e-scooter sharing with the city of Perth,” a city report said.
The names of the interested inner-city local authorities have not yet been announced.
The report said the city would continue to liaise with interested stakeholders, but if a “timely agreement” was not reached, it could continue the project independently.
“Other stakeholders in the project could potentially get involved if and when they’re ready,” it said.
“Flexibility to accommodate this should be built into tender documentation and negotiated with operators.”
The city’s pilot e-scooter rental program includes a two-year contract for two successful operators, with an option to extend.
Tenders will include a pricing model that considers the potential involvement of other stakeholders and the distribution of profits between all parties.
They must also include a work plan and outline how operators will monitor, manage and restrict e-scooter traffic through heavy pedestrian areas such as shopping malls.
Operators must also demonstrate that they have adequate insurance for any injuries or damages that may arise from using their e-scooters, which the city – and other participating stakeholders – name and release from any legal liability.
Cr Clyde Bevan said he was not against e-scooters but wanted to see designated trails for them for safety reasons.
“I think injuries can be quite serious, and we already have suggestions for 250 accidents, and there have already been fatalities with these scooters, so designated trails are very important,” he said.
Operators must also nominate docking and parking locations in their tenders, explaining why they are suitable and what incentives and barriers can encourage users to return or dock e-scooters safely after use.
Cr Liam Gobbert said e-scooters now exist in the state after a “much more relaxed stance” of legislation was introduced in December last year.
Changes to the Road Traffic Code 2000, which went into effect in WA on December 4, opened the door for the city of Perth to look into introducing e-scooter rental services.
New laws for e-rideable include a minimum user age of 16 and a driving speed of no faster than 25 km/h on shared paths and cycle paths and on local roads where the speed limit is 50 km/h or less, and there are no road markings.
Esperance, Bunbury, and Rockingham are also leading share trials for e-scooters. Cottesloe is currently considering renting e-scooters in the city.
