Beam Partners with UK Government for ACT Promotion
Central Canberra & Belconnen, ACT
Micromobility advocates and operators have been particularly busy this month, lending their voices to the key messages emerging from the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.
While many are appealing for micromobility to be considered in the summit’s discussions and decision making for CO2 emission reductions, others are using the massive interest in COP26 to highlight the contribution micromobility could make to climate change mitigation.
Singapore-based micromobility company Beam Mobility is going one step further, partnering with the UK Government for a campaign as part of COP26’s Transport Day last Wednesday.
The campaign includes offering discounted rides in Australia and New Zealand, coinciding with Beam’s ongoing share scheme trials in the ACT.
From November 10th, new Beam riders in Canberra can receive a free $5 ride by using the code COP26.
A Beam statement says the ‘Drive Something New Today’ promotion sought to encourage people who haven’t tried zero emission e-scooters to give them a go.
“With Drive Something New Today, Aussies are encouraged to switch their commuting habits, doing their part to make everyday changes, during COP26 and beyond, that will help the planet meet this goal,” the statement says.
“Beam’s partnership with the UK Government is all about raising awareness of the importance of reducing carbon footprints caused by fossil-fuelled travel and encouraging Australians to switch to climate-friendly alternatives while there is still time.
“By switching to a zero-emission e-scooter or e-bike for the last leg of your journey, instead of a regular car, you can save 350 grams of CO2 from entering the atmosphere for every kilometre travelled.
Setting a Great Example
A Beam spokesperson said zero-emissions transport was central to the UK’s approach to carbon emissions reduction. It has established the Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council and committed to ending the sale of petrol and diesel cars in the UK by 2030, putting the UK on course to be the fastest G7 country to decarbonise cars and vans.
She said this precedent provided a good platform to help raise awareness in Australia about the potential of zero-emissions transport.
Beam is the only micromobility operator in Australia and New Zealand to be certified ‘climate neutral’ and has announced its commitment to be carbon negative by 2025.
Over the next four years, the company is committed to:
- Investing in identifying a global standard for measuring the positive carbon impact of switching to alternative forms of transport
- Measuring and reporting on the carbon impact of modal shifts from cars and other carbon-emitting transport to e-scooters and e-bikes
- Investing in new technology to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels in day-to-day operations
- Only using 100% certified renewable energy sources in its operations, when those sources exist in the cities where Beam operates
- Release a roadmap on how other mobility companies can join the carbon negative journey
Half-Price Rides to Enjoy New Freedoms
In a separate initiative, Beam is offering half-priced peak hour rides in Canberra to assist ACT residents as they emerge from COVID restrictions and look to “enjoy more freedoms”.
Throughout November, all e-scooter rides will be half price between 6am to 9am and from 4pm to 7pm.
In addition, Beam introduced its new ‘Glide’ feature in Canberra this week, further integrating Beam scooters into the city’s transport network and assisting patrons to make multiple trips.
Riders using Glide can hop on and off multiple Beam vehicles without paying subsequent unlock fees, providing they start the new trip within 30 minutes of ending a previous trip.