Melbourne council ditches e-bike and e-scooter trial amid complaints
Another Melbourne council ends its "micromobility" trial of shared e-bikes and e-scooters after 93 per cent of feedback was negative.
Darebin council has ended a six-month trial of shared e-bikes and e-scooters, following overwhelming negative feedback from residents. The trial, which ran in the municipality's southern suburbs, saw 14,725 trips over six months, averaging 98 rides per day covering about 2.15 kilometres. However, 93% of the feedback was negative, with residents complaining about e-bikes and e-scooters blocking footpaths, creating mess, and posing accessibility issues.
Some residents used the trial to connect to public transport, with usage peaking overnight. The scheme also exceeded its budget, despite the operator Lime paying Darebin $18,000. Darebin resident Matthew Zammitt organized a petition with 1,227 signatures against the scheme, citing issues with abandoned e-bikes, bikes blocking footpaths, and driveways.
Former Darebin mayor Suzanne Newton defended the trial, citing climate benefits and reducing car journeys. However, Darebin council voted to scrap the trial, citing parking issues, budget overruns, and the scheme going over municipal boundaries. Lime, the operator, stated the decision was due to geography, as the network could not serve areas beyond Darebin.
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