E-scooters given the green-light
Queenstowners and tourists will soon be zipping around town on purple electric scooters.
Leading E-scooter company Beam, which operates in seven cities and towns across Aotearoa, as well as Australia and other countries, has been given the go-ahead for a two-year trial in Queenstown, Frankton and Wānaka.
And Beam’s head of sustainability Frederick Conquer told councillors on Thursday that the company has plans in place to tackle the problems created by anyone-can-ride scooters in the past.
When Lime scooters operated in Dunedin, for example, from 2019 to 2021, locals complained they were being ridden dangerously and parked randomly in the streets.
“We understand that launching shared mobility vehicles on the streets, there may be some questions or concerns,” Conquer said.
“We have one of the industry’s best rider education programmes. This includes in-App and in person, as well as rider education policies.
“Riders risk suspension if they don’t follow the rules. We track our riders and if any anti-social behaviour occurs, we actively suspend riders from the platform.”
There will be a three-strikes-and-you’re-out policy and safety ambassadors on the streets.
For parking, Beam will use the same approach it employs in Queensland, Australia, partnering with local businesses, including hotels, hospo outlets and supermarkets.
“While we would support a public space model... results of our community consultation have really encouraged the private model due to space constraints with in the city [sic],” Conquer said.
“It will provide a direct benefit to the community by providing safe, sustainable transport options, for people to get around without having to use cars, as well as a direct, much-needed revenue scheme to local businesses.”
Riders who don’t return the scooters to the parking zones would be hit with an immediate $18 fine.
The scooters have GPS, a 125km range, and helmets that lock to the aluminium frame. There will be speed limits, 15kmh in pedestrian areas and 25kmh in other areas, and also no-ride zones, including The Mall.
Beam will introduce a relatively small fleet at first, building up to 300 scooters across 50 parking zones, based on demand.
The company does not actually need a permit to operate, as the scooters will be parked on private land, but has signed a memorandum of understanding with the council. It also has $20 million public liability insurance.
It has suggested operating from 6am to 10pm, with no late-night riding in downtown zone. The scooters would cost $1 to unlock, then $0.45-$0.75 per minute, or 24-hour passes $25, 3-day passes $55, and 10-day passes $125.
But councillor Lisa Guy questioned those hours and the pricing, saying they seemed visitor focused, whereas the scooters could help with the council’s aim of 40% modal-shift away from cars.
“This could have excellent pick-up for getting our workforces around when we don’t have public transport, we don’t have bus access... particularly our hospitality rosters, often finishing after 11pm. Our buses finish at 10pm as well.”
Deputy mayor Quentin Smith said while there was some discomfort in the community about the proposal “we have an absolute imperative for mode shift” and this is a “fantastic opportunity”.
“I think the nuisance effects we saw a couple of years ago when this technology was rolled out has largely gone away, “ Smith said.
“That’s my observation in Dunedin particularly... it is a substantially mature market and model.”
Rival firm Flamingo Scooters is also proposing a trial, although it wants to work on the public space model, effectively street parking.
The public will be notified two weeks before the Beam trial is due to start.
