Your eyes are probably getting used to seeing an increasing number of 2-wheeled orange and purple devices roaming around Hobart and Launceston since just before Christmas. But, guess what… This is just the start of a 12-month micromobility trial of these electric scooters, or more commonly known by the cool kids as ‘e-scooters’.
Start your E-Engines Tasmanians!
We’re on our way to a new, safe, convenient, and environmentally-friendly means to travel!
In partnership with Beam and Neuron, the City of Hobart and the City of Launceston now supply hire-and-ride e-scooter devices around the two major Tasmanian cityscapes. These e-scooters are lightweight electric-powered vehicles that are popularly known in many parts of the world as a ‘last mile’ commuting and tourism transport option.
The E-scooter trial aims to reduce traffic congestion and support local businesses while offering a fun and low-cost transport choice to residents and visitors. Aside from these, e-scooters help in emissions reductions and aid in promoting healthy active travel as well as improving streetscape amenity and local economic development. (Both of which, we are big fans of here at 4one4 Property Co.)
Picture: NCA NewsWire / Richard Jupe
Like other e-scooters, these hire-and-ride devices will be able to travel on footpaths, shared paths, bike lanes, and certain roads. But unlike the privately-owned ones, these are subject to software-imposed speed limits, age limits, compulsory helmet usage, and other safety features. Among these safety innovations include the world’s first app-controlled helmet lock which secures a helmet to every e-scooter in between trips, topple detection, a 000 emergency button, voice guidance to educate and warn riders on how to ride safely, a ‘Follow my Ride’ function which allows riders to share their trips with their friends and family in real time, and a GPS with geofencing technology to control the ride area, parking, and speed.
The team at 4one4 Property Co. have been abuzz talking about the new purple and orange two- wheeled additions to the city- and many of them over the Christmas break had the pleasure of experiencing this modern yet eco-friendly means of travel. Of course, before anyone else, it would only be fitting for our forward thinking and innovation loving Company Directors to try it out first. Patrick and Abbey Berry were in the city the weekend of their introduction and decided to download the app and give the e-scooters a spin. According to them, the streets became livelier with people riding them throughout many areas of the city and everyone was seemingly enjoying themselves on their commute.
“Abbey and I have had the pleasure of using e-scooters in Adelaide recently when we went on our caravaning holiday to Central Australia- we were very excited to then see them in Hobart on our first weekend back. They are a fantastic way to easily get around the city and have a little fun during the process,” Patrick shared. “I love any eco-friendly innovation that can help my kids and the future generations enjoy the beauty of what Tasmania has to offer… oh and did i mention they are really fun to ride too!’
To educate the general public more with the riding rules and to ensure safety over the holiday period, a safety campaign rolls out which will include a series of short informative videos that will be shared on social media. And we have popped in below for anyone interested.
Apart from this, training periods for new e-scooter riders will also be allotted. Training which would limit the speed and power of e-scooters for a defined period will be tackled as well as the completion of an online safety tutorial designed to strongly encourage helmets.
It might seem promising currently, but Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds mentioned that the benefits of e-scooters to the city and the community in the long run will determine the success of its 12-month trial.
“We see micromobility modes playing a significant role in reducing traffic congestion in the city and encouraging more sustainable transport solutions.”
According to the City of Hobart’s official website, “the introduction of micromobility transport options aligns strategically with the City of Hobart’s Strategic Plan and the Sustainable Hobart and Connected Hobart action plans to improve connectivity and prioritise opportunities for safe and integrated active transport. Around Tasmania, it also aligns with the Greater Launceston Transport Vision and Work Plan and the Draft Launceston Transport Strategy.”
We are very excited to see how the roll out of these E-scooters are received across Hobart and Launceston- so far, so good it seems with the latest innovation. Let’s hope the chillier wintery months don’t scare off those two wheeled commuters and we can see the trial expand to many further eco-friendly options for our beautiful home state of Tasmania.
Feedback for the trial is welcomed and everyone can actively participate and contribute to the 12-month trial and assessment of these electric scooters.
You may report or send any feedback directly to the operators:
Beam (purple):
Phone – 03 7302 8265
Website – ridebeam.com
Email – hobart@ridebeam.com
Neuron (orange):
Phone – 03 6163 9791
Website – rideneuron.com
Email – hobartsupport@neuron.sg
