E-scooters coming to Ipswich
09 November 2021
An e-scooter pilot scheme has been given the greenlight by council, delivering an alternative transport option to the community that is sustainable, more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
The pilot will take place in Springfield for six months and is currently scheduled to start in September 2022.
Division 2 Councillor and Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic said she was looking forward to the pilot and residents having an alternative to cars.
“Getting to and from public transport can be a barrier for people and having the electric assistance means you don’t have to have a change of clothes as e-scooters are great for tackling hills and heat,” Cr Jonic said.
“Other programs have found them to be a great way to replace short car trips which is good for the environment, free’s up parking spaces, reduces congestion and is good for your health.
“Council’s masterplan for Ipswich’s transport future, iGO Intelligent Transport Systems Strategy, has identified e-scooters as an area of investigation that can encourage residents to find alternative modes of transport that in turn will potentially see a decrease in car dependency.”
Division 2 Councillor Paul Tully said Springfield is the ideal location for the pilot with its many parks and pathways.
“I am hoping to see e-scooters become a real alternative to cars in Springfield where there is an abundance of green space and cycling infrastructure in place to support the pilot,” Cr Tully said.
“Safety to the community is paramount and so the rules set by council in the planning stage early next year, will be an important part of ensuring we get it right.
“Under the pilot scheme council will not be paying for the service but will only incur low costs for ensuring compliance and eventually this could become an additional revenue source that could be reinvested into the pedestrian and cycle network.”
An e-scooter has a small motor with a rechargeable battery, which provides the user with power to increase their speed.
The current rules for riding them in Queensland are:
- Keep left and give way to pedestrians.
- Ride on footpaths and bicycle side of shared paths where possible.
- Riders are also able to use e-scooters on local streets, where it is safe to do so. A local street is a road with a speed limit of 50km/h or less. It must have no dividing line or median strip and if it is a one-way road, it can’t have more than one lane.
- Riders must be over 16 years old and must wear a helmet (12 years old if accompanied by adult).
- Travel at a safe distance to avoid collisions.
- Keep left and give way to pedestrians.
- Do not carry passengers.
- Do not use a mobile device while riding.
- Do not drink and ride
To assist with developing a position on e-scooters in Ipswich, community engagement was undertaken on Shape Your Ipswich.
The results of the survey undertaken by 366 participants, found there was support for e-scooters and a pilot occurring.
The commentary around the survey also indicated an educational campaign would be beneficial around e-scooter safety, operational issues and stakeholder management.