The debate over e-scooter safety in Melbourne is intensifying. 

The City of Melbourne recently decided to ban e-scooter hire, but neighbouring councils in Melbourne's inner north are pushing back.

The City of Melbourne has chosen to terminate its contracts with e-scooter companies Lime and Neuron, effective within days, prompted by safety concerns highlighted by residents, traders, and emergency department doctors. 

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece says he is “fed up with bad behaviour putting our community at risk”. 

The decision has been seen as a setback for the broader rollout of e-scooter networks across Australian cities, and sparked a strong response from councils in the inner north.

The mayors of Darebin, Merri-bek, and Moonee Valley have announced plans to introduce their own e-scooter and e-bike hire schemes, forming an inner-north mobility zone. 

This initiative aims to provide affordable transport options and improve connectivity across these municipalities. 

Darebin mayor Susanne Newton has called on the City of Melbourne to reconsider its ban. 

“It is so much better for connectivity if we can get through the city and to the city,” she said.

Cities across Australia are fighting to balance the benefits of micro-mobility solutions like e-scooters with the safety challenges they present. 

E-scooters have become increasingly popular due to their convenience and environmental benefits, but their rapid adoption has led to a surge in accidents and injuries, particularly in tourist areas.

A recent study at WA’s Broome Regional Hospital recorded 190 e-scooter-related injuries within a year, with 53 per cent of the patients reporting intoxication at the time of their accident. 

Back in Victoria, the state government is introducing new laws requiring councils that operate e-scooter schemes to select hire companies from a vetted list that meet specific safety and insurance obligations. 

These measures include increasing penalties for e-scooter offences, such as riding on footpaths or without a helmet, and introducing new penalties for riding as a passenger.

 

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