The city of Perth is on track to become the second metropolitan council in WA to test electric scooter rental.
The city of Stirling introduced a 12-month trial period for e-scooter rental in February. Still, Perth City officials have recommended the capital introduce a two-year trial period for e-scooter sharing. Esperance, Bunbury, and Rockingham are also leading share trials for e-scooters.
A draft tender document will be prepared if the council agrees to approve the trial at its meeting next Tuesday.
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Councilors will also vote 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.
A city spokesperson said they could not provide the names of interested downtown local authorities until those stakeholders had decided whether or not to participate in the trial.
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.
“It is proposed that the City of Perth will lead the tendering of an e-scooter sub-plan,” it said.
“Other project stakeholders may be able to get involved if and when they are ready.
“Flexibility to accommodate this should be built into tender documentation and negotiated with operators.”
Camera icon The city of Perth is on track to become the second metropolitan council in WA to test electric scooter rental. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian
The city’s pilot e-scooter rental program is proposed to include a two-year contract for two successful operators, with an option to extend.
It is proposed to include a pricing model in bids that considers the potential involvement of other stakeholders and the distribution of profits between all parties.
“There are potentially substantial financial benefits to having an e-scooter sharing scheme in the city, including potential revenues from permits, permits and per ride fees,” the report said.
Tenders 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.
The city is proposing operators nominate docking and parking locations in their tender applications, explaining why they are suitable and what incentives and barriers can encourage users to return or dispose of e-scooters safely after use. to moor.
According to the report, changes to the Road Traffic Code 2000, which came into effect in WA on December 4, have 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.
Things have not been smooth sailing for the city of Stirling since the launch of its e-scooter rental program, with Mirrabooka detectives reporting this week that a man in his 20s was blind in one eye and had several facial fractures and a broken bone—Arm after an incident in Trigg on Friday.
The man was riding one of the city’s outsourced orange rental scooters south of the West Coast Drive footpath next to another man on an e-scooter at 9:30 p.m. when the occupants of a white sedan driving on the road next to them, a potato-throwing or firing at the scooters. The injured man is still in the hospital.
