Wollongong is the first location in the Illawarra to trial e-scooters beginning Friday 29 September.

Neuron Mobility will deploy 300 of its orange e-scooters across the city as part of the trial which is expected to last for 12 months. 

Riders can unlock an e-scooter through Neuron’s mobile app but must be at least 16 years old to ride. There’s also a raft of safety features and restrictions for riders: a helmet must be always worn (each e-scooter has one), and they can only be ridden on bicycle lanes, shared paths and roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h, or 10km/h on shared paths. They are not permitted on footpaths at all.

E-scooters are also equipped with geofencing technology, meaning their speed will be limited in certain areas or will lose power completely if taken out of the trial zone. 

The trial zone includes sections of the Wollongong CBD, foreshore pathways as far north as Sandon Point, the University of Wollongong, TAFE West Wollongong, and the Innovation Campus, along with North Wollongong, Keiraville and Woonona. Privately owned e-scooters still cannot be used in these areas, however.

E-scooters have the potential not only to reduce traffic congestion in city centres, but also bring down carbon emissions by reducing the number of combustion engines on the road. Neuron Mobility says each of its e-scooters contributes $70,000 per year to the local economy, with riders spending $65 at local businesses per trip on average.

E-scooters haven’t gone without their detractors though. Privately-owned e-scooters are illegal in NSW due to safety risks on shared footpaths, and the potential for redundant and damaged vehicles to be abandoned en masse in public areas.

We want to hear what the Kiama community thinks about rolling out a similar trial in our LGA, so we started by asking our local representatives on council.

Councillor Matt Brown made his thoughts very clear: “Absolutely no e-scooters in or around Kiama. I would encourage people to walk or use their bike or e-bike or a normal scooter.”

“In relation to hiring, we have bikes for hire at Kiama Cycle. There is no appetite from Destination Kiama for the town to be littered with e-scooters and their inexperienced riders.”

Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang said she likes the idea of e-scooters: “They can be a lot of fun, and we do need to be looking for activities that young people and families enjoy.

However, she still has some reservations based on trials in other locations and wants to hear what locals think first.

“For example, waterways have been littered with discarded hire e-bikes and e-scooters in Canberra and Melbourne. 

In addition, a recent clinical study on e-scooters in Canberra found that ‘there were 623 hospital presentations from the mobility devices over 15 months, in which some 17 per cent of riders required surgical procedures.”

“Kiama's topology and the cost of upgrades necessary to the pathways and other infrastructure are barriers that would also need to be addressed.”

Councillor Mark Croxford had the opportunity to use an e-scooter in the Melbourne CBD and found them quite convenient, but still agreed with Councillor Matt Brown that other modes of transport should be prioritised.

“However, like Councillor Renkema-Lang, I'm interested in what our community thinks about this, as their input is crucial should Councillors be called upon to make an informed decision on this type of matter.

“As for safety concerns, I believe that personal responsibility should be a key term in any agreement between the user and the e-scooter provider. This would ensure that individuals are aware of the risks involved.

“In short, I'm open to the idea but think that community feedback is essential.”

The Bugle also wants community feedback, so let us know what you think. Are e-scooters a good idea for the Kiama LGA? Or will they cause more headaches than they’re worth? Let us know here! 

Reader Response!

I believed the e scooter will benefit our community, in particular to reduce congestion on the Main Street and also relief of too little parking space. By encouraging e scooter to our LGA, we provide additional visitors and tourist to spend their dollars in our town, thus supporting our community. Not to mention we reduce carbon footprint and give convenience to those of us we just want to get tot her gym or the shop for milk etc.

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You only have to visit Brisbane & see the dangers of scooter riders with cars & pedestrians and the mass of damaged and abandoned scooters littering the streets. They pose no benefit to a small geographical location as Kiama.

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 E/Scooters We were just in Broome (WA) and they are also trialing E-scooters they were left everywhere and helmets dumped expensive per minute

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Under no circumstances should council consider a E Scooter trial. One only has to investigate the nuisance behaviour of some riders, the continuing dumping and who is responsible for the consequences of a pedestrian accident on public footpaths. Look what’s happening interstate!

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Scooter Feedback The Kiama topography is quite different to the Melbourne CBD. Hills could be spills. I agree with the personal responsibility comment but keen to know what is the outcome for an injured pedestrian or damaged vehicle if an inexperienced scooter rider makes contact. Insurance covered by who? The provider or rider or? As Kiama is a highly regarded destination and very pedestrian friendly, on face value this looks like a great idea for another LGA! Cheers

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Scooters are a blight on the environment. They look terrible in every city where they are used.