New measures to improve safety and accessibility will geofence footpaths under two metres wide, addressing public complaints about e-scooters.
Citing concerns on public safety and accessibility, Yarra City Council last night put e-scooter providers on notice.
Despite being aware of the need better educate riders and regulate the use of shared e-scooters, Council believes they continue to be ridden and dumped in a way that blocks footpaths, putting pedestrians at risk, particularly the visually impaired and disabled. It is important that a balance is struck between promoting a sustainable transport option and concerns on community access.
Three years into the trial, Council continues to receive complaints from the community, who are increasingly frustrated at the time taken to retrieve inappropriately parked e-scooters, including footpath trading zones. As a result, council is having to shift limited resources to effectively monitor and resolve what Council believes to be the remit of the providers – and something that is not sustainable.
As a way of helping prevent inappropriate use and parking of e-scooters, Council last night resolved to geofence all footpaths narrower than two metres across the municipality by the end of January – prioritising hotspots for e-scooter trips and events.
Noting that the current e-scooter agreement ends in April next year, Council has requested that e-scooter operators provide detailed data on complaints regarding inappropriate parking of e-scooters, including location and daily usage patterns in high-traffic areas, so that Council can better identify where greater enforcement is required, and the cost of doing this effectively.
Council will also continue to talk with business leaders on the impact of e-scooter parking in Yarra’s activity centres.