Victorians, including those in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay, will be able to continue using e-scooters for summer, with the state government announcing an extension of the trial.
In an announcement on Friday, October 6, the state government said the trial would be extended until April 5, 2024, to collect the most comprehensive dataset to inform the future of the program.
More than one million people signed up to hire e-scooters in Victoria during the trial- with five million trips taken and more than nine million kilometres travelled.
Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said it has been a successful trial over the winter months.
“The safety of all Victorian road users is our highest priority,” she said.
“We’re taking a considered and evidence-based approach to e-scooters in Victoria to make sure we get this right.
“We’re keen to see it operate over an extended holiday period and in warmer weather to ensure our datasets are comprehensive.”
There are an estimated 100,000 privately owned e-scooters in use in Victoria, with private users making up half of e-scooter riders alongside popular shared scooter hire operators.
The government said there have been no significant safety incidents during the trial period.
The trial covering private scooters only ran through the winter months, showing e-scooter use and incidents peak during the warmer period.
Riders are reminded to wear a helmet, not ride on footpaths, not carry passengers on their scooters, and abide by the same alcohol, drug and mobile device restrictions as when they are driving a car.
E-scooter riders must travel at a maximum speed of 20 kilometres per hour and the e-scooters must not be capable of exceeding 25 kilometres per hour to be approved for use.
The Department of Transport and Planning is developing a guide for councils with advice on how to manage e-scooter share schemes, including parking management and operator insurance requirements.
