The Australian city of Melbourne has made a drastic decision to ban rental electronic scooters due to safety concerns, following a surge in accidents since their introduction in February 2022.
Initially welcomed as part of a two-year trial, the scooters have now been deemed too risky by city officials. Melbourne’s mayor, Nicholas Reece, expressed frustration with the behavior of some scooter users, citing issues such as riding on footpaths, improper parking, and creating tripping hazards around the city.
The decision to ban the scooters was met with mixed reactions, with operators Lime and Neuron ordered to remove the vehicles within 30 days. Both companies had been working to improve safety measures, with Neuron even planning to install AI cameras on scooters to prevent misuse.
Despite efforts to address safety concerns, the city council voted 6-4 to ban the scooters almost immediately, following in the footsteps of other cities like Paris which have also outlawed them. The companies still had six months left on their contracts to operate the vehicles and had been campaigning for alternative measures like restricting scooter use to less congested areas.
While the scooters had initially been praised for reducing carbon emissions and promoting public transport, reports of accidents and injuries have raised serious concerns. The Royal Melbourne hospital reported close to 250 scooter-related injuries in 2022, with some cases resulting in deaths and brain damage, particularly among younger patients.
The ban on rental electronic scooters in Melbourne marks a significant shift in the city’s transportation landscape, as officials grapple with balancing innovation with public safety.
