The debate over rental e-scooters is set to continue after Sunshine Coast Council voted to end an 18-month trial and not revisit the issue until 2026.
Neuron Mobility was selected to conduct the trial, in Mooloolaba and Maroochydore, and deployed its orange e-scooters and e-bikes in June last year. Within a year, more than 130,000 trips were taken, with riders travelling more than 260,000 kilometres in total.But a survey of residents found most wanted the trial to end, prompting councillors to vote against its extension or the permanent introduction of rental e-scooters and e-bikes.
“Based on the overall review, council agreed to end the trial on September 30, 2024, and reassess the Sunshine Coast’s readiness for e-transport hire offerings in 2026,” the council’s customer service executive, Shanagh Jacobs, said on Thursday. While Neuron had declared its e-scooters and e-bikes well-suited to the region, and likely to benefit residents and tourists, the survey found they were not being used appropriately.With the major rental e-scooter companies not welcome on the Gold Coast but allowed to operate in Brisbane, the disparity in local government rules has fuelled debate over the competition for space on footpaths.