Bike and Scooter Share is Booming in Darwin

By Phil Latz | 11th March 2021 |
Darwin Neuron Bike and Scooter Share

Darwin is one of Australia’s most remote cities. Geographically it’s closer to Singapore than Sydney. It’s the capital city for the Northern Territory, which is Australia’s most sparsely populated state or territory with

When Will Our Governments Start Joining the Dots?

By Phil Latz | 11th March 2021 |
Spin Scooter

In this article I’ll look at two recent decisions by two different governments, that are equally disturbing for a slightly differing set of reasons.

Banning Scooter Trials: Andrew Constance has deep roots in the Bega region on NSW’s far south coast. In the 1860’s his great-great-grandfather, James Constance, drove a team of bullocks through the Bega Valley and settled there as a bush pioneer until his death in 1912. Andrew Constance told this story in greater detail during his maiden speech to the NSW parliament on 21st May 2003.

In that same maiden speech he said, “The broader policy questions about the environment mean surely it is time to dare our Government and citizens to consider every option…”

A Wheelie Good Rack!

By Phil Latz | 11th March 2021 |
Wheelie Bike Rack

Bicycle parking is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to encouraging more people to ride. But before anyone starts drilling holes in public space to install ‘permanent’ bike parking hoops, enclosures or other facilities, they have to jump through expensive hoops themselves in terms of approvals, ensuring they’re not potentially disrupting any underground utilities and so on.

These costs, combined with uncertainty amongst the relevant authorities that the parking would be regularly used, often leads to inaction. No parking leads to less riding and so the vicious cycle repeats.

An Insider’s Perspective of Australia’s E-Scooter Share Schemes

By Dan Barr | 11th March 2021 |
Adelaide escooters

Colourful e-scooters on footpaths, in parks and at bus stops, have become common place in several Australian cities in a very short time. They range in colour from green, orange, purple and yellow, depending on the operator.

Periodically, cities have changed colours, authorising different operators to host e-scooter hire schemes in their city. The dominant operators in Australia are currently Beam (purple), Neuron Mobility (orange) and Lime (green).

Since Lime initiated Australian services in Brisbane in late 2018, with over 50,000 rides being taken in the first two weeks, other cities have been quick to follow. In just over two years, e-scooter hire schemes have been approved in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Charles Sturt (north-western Adelaide), Port Adelaide, Townsville, West Torrens (western Adelaide), Canberra and Bunbury.

Hobart Reduces CBD Speed Limits

By Phil Latz | 11th March 2021 |
Hobart Tasmania

Effective from Monday 1st February 2021, Hobart has become the latest Australian city to lower its speed limits on central city streets.

As you can see from the map accompanying this article for all but two roads the speed limit has been reduced from 50 kph to 40kph. The small roads shown in grey were already 40 kph.

NSW Abandons E-scooter Trial – Minister ‘Not in the Mood’

By Phil Latz | 11th March 2021 |
Andrew Constance

The NSW government has abandoned plans for an electric scooter trial in Sydney despite a national push to legalise the mobility devices.

Electric scooters are illegal on roads and footpaths in NSW, but sales continue to grow.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance says he was “not in the mood” to have e-scooters on Sydney streets, even though his department ran a lengthy process recommending conditions for holding a trial.