E-scooter trial

Consultation has concluded

Outcome of E-scooter Trial

At the 20 February 2023 Council meeting, Elected Members voted to continue hire-and-ride e-scooter services in Hobart, with an ongoing commitment to deliver safety and parking improvements in consultation with the community.

Under the decision, any future e-scooter licence fees invested into shared on-street parking stations and transit lanes for bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters. Council will also write to the Tasmanian Government to call for the urgent construction of suitable lanes and better enforcement.

Licence conditions for e-scooter operators will take into account the findings of the hire and ride e-scooter trial with particular emphasis on reducing footpath obstruction. These conditions will be considered by Council at a subsequent meeting prior to their implementation.

The current trial arrangements will remain in place until 23 June 2023 while a new service arrangement is developed for hire-and-ride operators.

Background

A 12-month trial of hire-and-ride e-scooters were introduced in the City of Hobart, alongside the City of Launceston, in December 2021. The trial was in response to the growing popularity of personal mobility devices and regulatory changes from the State Government which allow both private and rental e-scooters to be used on most local roads, footpaths and cycling trails across the State.

Under the terms of the trial licensing agreement, the operators are responsible for all aspects of managing use of their products in the City of Hobart area. The City monitors their operations to ensure they comply with safety and amenity requirements.

The trial has not sought to determine whether e-scooters should or should not be allowed to operate in Tasmania as this is regulated by State Government legislation; rather the trial has provided a formal mechanism for the Council to play an advocacy role in managing the introduction of e-scooters to their cities, to better understand how e-scooters have been used, and to identify opportunities for future improvement.

Evaluation process

The trial was extended in December 2022 by three months to March 2023 to give the elected members, particularly those new to Council, time to understand the public sentiment, issues and data generated by the introduction of hire-and-ride e-scooters in Hobart. A workshop on the 30 January 2023 provided key evidence and information about the trial to the newly appointed Council.

As a part of the workshop, a Trial Evaluation Report was presented which included key aims, methodologies, evidence sources, data and findings about the 12-month e-scooter trial.

Trial Evaluation Report

The Trial Evaluation Report outlines the impact of e-scooter technology in Hobart and the role the City of Hobart can play in managing the impact of personal mobility devices such as e-scooters.

The report explores various issues including the environmental benefits and reduction in vehicle emissions, access to low-cost electric vehicle options, and the needs of vulnerable members of the public and the broader community.

Data presented within this report include:

  • Usage data from the device providers,
  • Incident data from the device providers and Tasmania Police,
  • Accident data from Royal Hobart Hospital,
  • Community Survey data.

Trial Evaluation Report(PDF, 3MB)

Trial Evaluation Report (Accessible Version)(DOCX, 12MB)

Community Survey Results (Your Say Hobart)

The e-scooter trial survey was an open access, self-selection online survey provided on the City of Hobart Your Say website from the 4 to 24 July 2022. A small number of surveys were also collected from people randomly approached on the street.

The survey received significant engagement with 2,048 respondents.

It provided an opportunity for community members, both residents and visitors, to provide feedback on the e-scooter trial, including their use of e-scooters, their reasons for using or not using e-scooters, their views on the continued use of e-scooters and any improvements to the trial and future transport options for Hobart.

The City of Hobart engaged Metropolis Research, a social research firm based in Melbourne, to evaluate the survey findings. Metropolis noted that the survey reflects the views of those sufficiently engaged in issues relating to e-scooters to choose to participate and should be read as a poll of interested community members.

Community Survey Statement of Results(PDF, 310KB)

Community Survey Statement of Results (Accessible Version)(DOCX, 454KB)


More information about the City's e-scooter trial can be found of the City of Hobart website including FAQs, information about Tasmania's road rules and how to report an e-scooter issue.

Outcome of E-scooter Trial

At the 20 February 2023 Council meeting, Elected Members voted to continue hire-and-ride e-scooter services in Hobart, with an ongoing commitment to deliver safety and parking improvements in consultation with the community.

Under the decision, any future e-scooter licence fees invested into shared on-street parking stations and transit lanes for bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters. Council will also write to the Tasmanian Government to call for the urgent construction of suitable lanes and better enforcement.

Licence conditions for e-scooter operators will take into account the findings of the hire and ride e-scooter trial with particular emphasis on reducing footpath obstruction. These conditions will be considered by Council at a subsequent meeting prior to their implementation.

The current trial arrangements will remain in place until 23 June 2023 while a new service arrangement is developed for hire-and-ride operators.

Background

A 12-month trial of hire-and-ride e-scooters were introduced in the City of Hobart, alongside the City of Launceston, in December 2021. The trial was in response to the growing popularity of personal mobility devices and regulatory changes from the State Government which allow both private and rental e-scooters to be used on most local roads, footpaths and cycling trails across the State.

Under the terms of the trial licensing agreement, the operators are responsible for all aspects of managing use of their products in the City of Hobart area. The City monitors their operations to ensure they comply with safety and amenity requirements.

The trial has not sought to determine whether e-scooters should or should not be allowed to operate in Tasmania as this is regulated by State Government legislation; rather the trial has provided a formal mechanism for the Council to play an advocacy role in managing the introduction of e-scooters to their cities, to better understand how e-scooters have been used, and to identify opportunities for future improvement.

Evaluation process

The trial was extended in December 2022 by three months to March 2023 to give the elected members, particularly those new to Council, time to understand the public sentiment, issues and data generated by the introduction of hire-and-ride e-scooters in Hobart. A workshop on the 30 January 2023 provided key evidence and information about the trial to the newly appointed Council.

As a part of the workshop, a Trial Evaluation Report was presented which included key aims, methodologies, evidence sources, data and findings about the 12-month e-scooter trial.

Trial Evaluation Report

The Trial Evaluation Report outlines the impact of e-scooter technology in Hobart and the role the City of Hobart can play in managing the impact of personal mobility devices such as e-scooters.

The report explores various issues including the environmental benefits and reduction in vehicle emissions, access to low-cost electric vehicle options, and the needs of vulnerable members of the public and the broader community.

Data presented within this report include:

  • Usage data from the device providers,
  • Incident data from the device providers and Tasmania Police,
  • Accident data from Royal Hobart Hospital,
  • Community Survey data.

Trial Evaluation Report(PDF, 3MB)

Trial Evaluation Report (Accessible Version)(DOCX, 12MB)

Community Survey Results (Your Say Hobart)

The e-scooter trial survey was an open access, self-selection online survey provided on the City of Hobart Your Say website from the 4 to 24 July 2022. A small number of surveys were also collected from people randomly approached on the street.

The survey received significant engagement with 2,048 respondents.

It provided an opportunity for community members, both residents and visitors, to provide feedback on the e-scooter trial, including their use of e-scooters, their reasons for using or not using e-scooters, their views on the continued use of e-scooters and any improvements to the trial and future transport options for Hobart.

The City of Hobart engaged Metropolis Research, a social research firm based in Melbourne, to evaluate the survey findings. Metropolis noted that the survey reflects the views of those sufficiently engaged in issues relating to e-scooters to choose to participate and should be read as a poll of interested community members.

Community Survey Statement of Results(PDF, 310KB)

Community Survey Statement of Results (Accessible Version)(DOCX, 454KB)


More information about the City's e-scooter trial can be found of the City of Hobart website including FAQs, information about Tasmania's road rules and how to report an e-scooter issue.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    E-scooter survey

    Share your feedback on the City of Hobart's 12 month e-scooter trial. Your feedback will form part of the evaluation of this trial and help guide the future of e-scooter use in Hobart.

    Consultation has concluded