E-SCOOTER MOVE FOR THE CITY
ELECTRIC scooters could soon be the preferred mode of transport for Townsville residents as the council considers new commercial leasing options.
The Townsville City Council meeting will today debate if it is viable for e-scooter operators to set up in Townsville as the council weighs up the pros and cons of scooters in the city.
Mayor Jenny Hill said a number of operators had approached the council, but staff were in discussion with a particular group.
“There has been a lot of issues with these scooters in Brisbane and then other places, and all of us have looked at those issues,” she said.
“We want to ensure that if we allow an operator into the community that we don’t see the same issues here as we’ve seen in other places.”
In 2019 Brisbane City Council called for the State Government crack down on users who flout the law and put Lime, the company that owns the scooters, on notice, asking it to prove the scooters were safe.
From November 2018 to December 2019, about 447 emergency department presentations were due to Limerelated injuries.
Cr Hill said there was an “appetite” for people to use the scooters in Townsville. “It may benefit those people who park in our free car parks and use the scooters to get around the city to work,” she said.
“There is a benefit to be able to (use the scooters) once we open up again for tourism, to be able to tour areas such as Kissing Point, The Strand and the Botanical Gardens.
“It is a lot easier if you’re on a scooter and you don’t need to get into a car.”
The council will also discuss illegal dumping, health care services developments and amendments to the Lansdown Station redevelopment.