Published on Monday, 21 November 2022 at 12:28:00 PM
The City of Vincent is one step closer to trialling an e-scooter share system for the first time.
An e-scooter share system provides an alternative transport option to driving and fills gaps in the public transport network.
The systems are designed for short trips, where e-scooters can be parked at a destination and made available for another rider to use.
Vincent has been in discussions with its Inner City Group counterparts Cities of Perth, Subiaco, South Perth and the Town of Victoria Park, to synchronise effects to trial e-scooters across the broader inner city area.
The group, formed in March 2019, works together on common issues which exist across local government boundaries.
Vincent Council voted to open an Expressions of Interest (EOI) process for e-scooter businesses to operate within the Vincent area at its 15 November Ordinary Council Meeting.
This follows on from the City of Perth recently opening a Request for Quotation process within its own boundaries.
The trial will last for 12 months with a possible 12-month extension option.
Once the EOIs are received, Council will choose the best suited operator.
Cr Ashley Wallace.
Mayor Emma Cole said an e-scooter share system could improve traffic congestion and connectivity between Vincent’s town centres and key facilities such as Beatty Park, the library and community centre.
“The reduction in private car use and transition to a range of other options has the potential to improve the quality of life for people within Vincent,” she said.
“E-scooters and other micro-mobility devices are not for everyone, but each time a person makes a trip that way, it frees up space on the streets for people who need to drive.
“There are multiple benefits such as improved air quality, cost savings and less time spent stuck in traffic.
“Our intention is to have a trial that allows us to have flexibility to adjust and improve the system during the trial period to ensure a good level of service and maintain public amenity.
“We are looking for an e-scooter provider that has the ability to control speeds using GPS technology, will provide helmets and offer geofencing technology to help control parking and where the scooters can be used.”
Ms Cole said Vincent’s vision was to have an integrated shared system where people could ride through inner city local government areas without having to swap e-scooters at the boundaries.
“We will continue to discuss with the City of Perth and our fellow Inner City Group Councils to bring this vision to life,” she said.
“As part of our EOI process, we will assess the environmental impact and third-party advertising of each application.”
Currently 67 per cent of Vincent residents’ journey to work is via car.
A key vision of Vincent’s Accessible City Strategy is to reduce this figure to 58 per cent over five years, then down to 48 per cent in 10 years.
Neighbouring local government, the City of Stirling, started a 12-month trial with one e-scooter operator in February while the City of Rockingham started its trial in March.
Meanwhile, the Inner City Group signed a three-year extension of its Memorandum of Understanding on 2 November to promote mutually beneficial cooperation and collaboration between the Cities of Vincent, Perth, South Perth and Subiaco and the Town of Victoria Park in the central Perth region.
The overall objective is to enhance strategic outcomes in infrastructure and transport, planning, economic development and culture, corporate and business services and community and social services.
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