Released 04/04/2021
Canberrans can now ride an e-scooter from Belconnen to the City through paths over Bruce Ridge, connecting up the city’s shared e-scooter zones for the first time.
“This is the first step towards a citywide expansion of this great new transport technology, as we work to make shared e-scooters available for all Canberrans by the end of the year,” said Minister for Transport Chris Steel.
“Shared e-scooters are proving to be great for short trips, as well as longer commutes when combined with public transport.
“The expansion follows feedback from the community that e-scooters provide another useful transport option, and Canberrans would like to see them available more widely across our city.”
Through the 2021 review of the shared e-scooter scheme, the ACT Government heard feedback that new rules and frameworks are needed to promote safe and courteous use of the devices.
This feedback is helping to shape the citywide expansion plans, with a range of safety provisions to be put in place in the expanded riding zone between the City and Belconnen. These include:
- Radford College, Haydon Retirement Community, inside GIO stadium and Gossan Hill are no ride zones
- Calvary hospital is a permanent slow zone, where e-scooters can’t be ridden faster than 15 kilometres per hour
- A temporary slow zone (also 15km per hour) will be in place outside GIO Stadium for 90 minutes before and after major events
- 18 new parking sites have been identified and e-scooters will be deployed to these locations on a daily basis
- No-parking zones have been identified to prevent e-scooters being left in and around nature reserves.
The ACT Government is currently working with shared e-scooter providers to further expand the riding zones across the city in the second half of 2022. The next phase of expansion will include the Woden and Gungahlin regions, followed by Tuggeranong, Weston Creek and greater Belconnen by the end of the year.
To further increase safety, the ACT Government passed new laws last month to ensure e-scooter riders have a clear obligation to maintain control of their device at all times and ride responsibly.
More new legislation will be debated in the ACT Legislative Assembly this week to strengthen our current drug and alcohol legislation as it applies to e-scooters and other personal mobility devices. This will target unsafe drink and drug riding on footpaths, shared paths and other road related spaces.
“With the right rules and safety frameworks in place, we can confidently roll out e-scooters across Canberra. This will give everyone in our community more transport choices and another fun, active way to get around town,” said Minister Steel.
Quotes attributable to Ned Dale of Canberra Lead at Beam
“Canberran riders are growing more reliant on micromobility, with over 80% of our riders in Canberra saying they plan to rely more on shared micromobility in the coming months.”
“As we continue to expand our footprint in Canberra, our commitment is first and foremost to the safety of both the riding and non-riding community, and ensuring rider compliance with the ACT legislation.”
“We have comprehensive in-app rider education, and incorporate safety features such as precision geofencing, vehicle tracking, triple brakes and bluetooth-locked helmets.”
Quotes attributable to Richard Hannah of Head of ANZ at Neuron
“We are delighted to be extending Canberra’s existing riding area, to better connect residents and business in Belconnen. Riders in Canberra have embraced Neuron e-scooters, and we look forward to reaching more people, allowing them to travel around their local area and to connect to the city centre.”
“E-scooters are a great way for locals as well as tourists to travel in a safe, convenient and fun way and we thank the ACT Government for their continued trust and support.”
For more details including a map of the expanded operating areas, visit: www.transport.act.gov.au.
- Statement ends -
Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases