E-mobility Electric Scooters Electric bicycles

[verbatim9]

Brisbane Times ---------->https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/a-dockless-electric-scooter-share-scheme-is-coming-to-brisbane-20181108-p50ev6.html

A dockless electric scooter-share scheme is coming to Brisbane


By Felicity Caldwell

Electric hire-on-demand scooters will soon be littered around the streets of Brisbane.The San Francisco-based start-up Lime last month launched 900 of its electric scooters in New Zealand's two largest cities, Christchurch and Auckland, with plans to bring them to Brisbane and Melbourne soon.

US company Lime plans to introduce an electric scooter-share scheme to Brisbane and Melbourne.
Unlike Brisbane's CityCycle scheme, Lime scooters don't use docking stations. Instead, users find and unlock them on city streets using a map on a mobile app.
The scooters can travel at speeds of up to 27km/h, with a maximum range of 48 kilometres, and can be left anywhere within a certain area.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1060810602082234368

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Authorities warn electric scooter users could be fined $10,000

People who take up the chance to zoom through Brisbane's streets on an electric scooter during a planned trial could be fined up to $10,444, transport authorities have warned.

Scooter-sharing start-up Lime has been working with state government and council authorities to bring hundreds of its dockless scooters to Brisbane.

The company plans to go ahead with a trial of its electric scooters, which can travel at speeds of up to 27km/h, in Brisbane this weekend.

However, Transport and Main Roads executive director of transport access and use Nigel Ellis has written to Lime to warn participants would be breaking the law and could face hefty fines.

Queensland road rules state motorised scooters must not be able to travel faster than 10km/h and must have an electric motor of 200 watts output or less.

"I understand that the Lime eScooter has characteristics that exceed these specifications," Mr Ellis wrote.

"As such, the use of the Lime eScooter on Queensland roads and road-related areas is illegal."

Mr Ellis said Lime and users would be likely be committing several offences by using the scooters on roads and paths in Queensland as they could be considered unregistered motor vehicles.

Using an unregistered motor vehicle on a road carries an on-the-spot fine of $240 or a maximum penalty of $10,444, while using an illegal electric scooter on a path attracts an on-the-spot fine of $90 and a maximum penalty of $3011.

Mr Ellis said TMR was currently investigating changing the laws that governed electric scooters and other personal electric transportation devices.

"TMR recognises the utility of these devices in filling a gap in the transportation market," he wrote.

"However, care must be taken to ensure that any new devices that are introduced into the road network do not adversely affect safety.

"In particular, the safety of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, must be ensured."

Mr Ellis said TMR was willing to work with Lime but until legislative changes were progressed, it could not support the "illegal and potentially unsafe use of these devices on roads and paths in Queensland".

Brisbane deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner said he believed the scooters could help provide a new solution in the city's transport network, provided it was done safely.

Cr Schrinner said the devices could be an alternative to building expensive new park and ride facilities.

"It is disappointing the state government has taken this approach," he said.

"We'd like to see a more can do approach from the government when it comes to this new technology.

"This has been rolled out in more than 120 cities around the world already and we can't bury our head in the sand and pretend that new technology is not going to change the way we travel in the future."

Cr Schrinner said the question of whether helmets should be required to ride the scooters on bike paths should also be considered.

A Palaszczuk government spokesman said Lime's proposed investment in Queensland was exciting and would provide another travel option for people on the last section of the journey to work or home from public transport.

"The challenge for governments at all levels is working with the legislation that covers these services to make sure our laws don't stop people from accessing them but at the same time allows them to do so in a safe and responsible way," he said.

The spokesman said people would be keen to try the Lime scooters but they should wear a helmet and take their safety and liability into account.

"The fact remains Lime's eScooters do not currently comply with Queensland's laws," he said.

"We understand Lime applied for exemptions from regulations in other locations to run their trials but chose not to take that approach in Queensland.

"As it stands their eScooters are illegal. It has signalled its intention to continue with its trial regardless."

The spokesman said the government was reviewing the laws, with the review expected to be completed in early 2019.

A Lime spokeswoman said it would go ahead with its pilot of electric scooters in Brisbane this weekend to give residents the opportunity to experience its service.

"We have been working closely with the Brisbane City Council and the Queensland government for more than four months," she said.

"We care deeply about creating the safest program for all Queenslanders."

The spokeswoman said the launch would include "a few hundred" scooters deployed in Brisbane, and more than 500 "juicers" would be employed to recharge the devices every night.

She said the Brisbane pilot followed the success of a Lime scooter pilot at Monash University in Melbourne and an electric bicycle pilot in Sydney, in addition to the quick uptake of scooters in New Zealand, with almost 354,000 trips since its launch in October.

Unlike the CityCycle scheme, Lime's electric scooters do not use docking stations, and users find and unlock the devices using a map on a mobile app.

Brisbane would be the first market for the rollout of Lime scooters in Australia.

The situation has some similarities to Uber's arrival in Brisbane.

Uber arrived in Brisbane in 2014, with transport authorities slapping drivers with millions of dollars in fines before ride-sharing was legalised in September 2016.

Lime has tech giants Uber and Google parent company Alphabet in its corners as investors.

LNP leader Deb Frecklington tried one of the scooters on Tuesday when representatives from Lime visited the Queensland Parliament, and Cr Schrinner has given them a spin.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/fel_caldwell/status/1062860631164907520

[brissypete]

Gotta love how the deputy mayor, state opposition leader and a government spokesperson all quoted saying how great this scheme is then on the other hand TMR are saying they are currently illegal.

I really hope the laws are changed as it seems ridiculous that a cyclist on a bikeway can ride as fast as they want but a scooter with a motor is limited to basically double walking speed. Even 27km/hr is less than many bikes do.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/fel_caldwell/status/1062887121491439616

[verbatim9]

https://twitter.com/verbatim18/status/1062896626010714112

[red dragin]

A repeat of Uber. 

"We know we are breaking the law, but we'll do it anyway and you will have to change the laws to suit us".

My gripe being all those individuals who have wanted faster than 10kmhr eBike's in the past, that couldn't because of the laws. Not against the raising of the speed limit by the way.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2018/2018_11_15_DAILY.pdf

Ministerial Statements

Electric Scooters, Lime

Hon. MC BAILEY (Miller—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (10.08 am): Electric
scooters have proven popular in cities around the world. We have recently learned that South-East
Queensland is on the radar of companies looking to bring their services to our region. Cheap and
accessible electric scooters will give people another travel option, particularly on the last section of the
journey to work or home on public transport. This proposed investment in Queensland is an exciting
proposition. One of the more well-known companies operating in this space is of course Lime.
Lime launched in January 2017 and operates in over 80 international locations offering electric
scooters and bikes for hire. Lime users find, unlock and pay for the device using an app. Instead of
using docking stations like bike share schemes, including the yellow share bikes we see around
Brisbane, Lime users leave their scooters at their final destination. Lime's electric scooters have a
250-watt motor and can reach speeds of up to 27 kilometres per hour. This means that they do not
currently comply with Queensland laws and regulations. However, the Palaszczuk government is keen
to facilitate and fast-track this new mobility service. We are reviewing laws and regulations now and
expect to have that review finished before Christmas.

Lime has signalled its wish to conduct a pilot in Brisbane this weekend and we support the pilot
happening in a safe and responsible way. I will be inviting Lime to meet with my department today to
discuss options, including offering a temporary exemption from our regulations so that we can support
their pilot.

We see the benefits of businesses like Lime and will work with those businesses to make sure
that what they offer can be enjoyed by Queenslanders and visitors to our state. People will be keen to
give Lime a go, so we urge those people who use their service to wear a helmet, stay safe and respect
other commuters

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/brisbanetimes/status/1063522095441702914

[brissypete]

From what I've seen the Lime scooters are proving popular, haven't yet tried them myself but intend to.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1069783770415292416

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Footpath scooters here to stay, but not without new fines for misuse

Riding an electric scooter is now officially legal in Queensland, but a change in regulation has come with a new $130 fine for anyone caught misbehaving.

The new rules, which come into effect on Friday, include a speed limit of 25km/h for "rideables", which must have effective brakes and nothing sharp that could injure a pedestrian.

Helmets must be worn while riding and users cannot carry a passenger.

Children under 12 are not allowed to ride and people aged under 16 must be supervised by an adult.

Users must ride in a safe manner and give way to passengers (sic) pedestrians, while scooters can be ridden on paths, including the bicycle side of a shared path.

They cannot be ridden on Brisbane CBD roads and riders should avoid interacting with traffic.

A new fine of $130 has been created for the "incorrect use of personal mobility devices", while speeding will incur a $174 fine.

Last month, Transport and Main Roads wrote to US company Lime to warn users would be breaking several laws if they took one of its "illegal" scooters during a trial in Brisbane, with fines of up to $10,444.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey later intervened to announce Lime would be offered a temporary exemption during a review of Queensland's laws and regulations, which has culminated in the changes this week.

Lime's electric-powered scooters can travel at speeds of up to 27km/h and can be found and hired using a map on its mobile app, rather than left at a docking station, such is the case with CityCycles.

Mr Bailey said changes to road rules were in response to the growing popularity and use of electric scooters, bikes and other forms of transport, and would protect people using paths and roads.

"We are seeing different kinds of rideables on footpaths and public spaces and there are companies offering personal transport services looking to invest here, so we need to make sure our laws support these changes," he said.

"We began our review of Queensland's regulations for rideables earlier this year in anticipation of these changing transport options.

"Since that review began, a number of personalised transport operators have expressed interest in coming into the Queensland market."

Mr Bailey said the announcement would give certainty to people who wanted to ride the devices and companies which wanted to offer them as a service.

"We're not quite there with hoverboards but these rule changes will provide some guidance on how our public spaces should accommodate the range of other transport devices that are out there now," he said.

Mr Bailey said people should also ride responsibly during the festive season.

"It's important to remember, especially during Christmas and New Year celebrations, that drinking and riding do not mix," he said.

"Dangerous riding behaviour can and will be enforced by the Queensland Police Service."

It is understood multiple companies have approached Brisbane City Council seeking to roll out electric scooters.

The council envisaged only one scooter company operating in Brisbane going forward, and that operator would be chosen by a competitive tender process.

[Stillwater]

So two-wheel electric scooters can travel legally at 25kph, but four and three-wheel electric mobility scooters still restricted to 10kph?  What's happening?   :conf 

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2018/12/14/transport-gets-personal-with-new-rules-for-rideables

Media Statements
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Friday, December 14, 2018

Transport gets personal with new rules for 'rideables'

New rules come into effect today to support the expanding range of 'rideable' devices being used by Queenslanders.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said changes to road rules were responding to the growing popularity and use of electric-scooters, electric bikes and other forms of personal transport.

"The new laws for rideables recognise our community's changing travel habits and the uptake in first and last mile transport options," Mr Bailey said.

"We are seeing different kinds of rideables on footpaths and public spaces and there are companies offering personal transport services looking to invest here, so we need to make sure our laws support these changes.

"These new travel options can help ease traffic congestion, reduce the need for parking spaces and are also eco-friendly.

"We are always striving to provide Queenslanders with more travel options and we are leading the way with this reform.

"We began our review of Queensland's regulations for rideables earlier this year in anticipation of these changing transport options.

"Since that review began, a number of personalised transport operators have expressed interest in coming into the Queensland market.

"We said the revised regulations would be in place before Christmas and today's announcement gives certainty to people who want to ride these devices, as well as those companies that want to offer them as a service.

"We're not quite there with hoverboards but these rule changes will provide some guidance on how our public spaces should accommodate the range of other transport devices that are out there now."

Mr Bailey said safety was a priority when introducing any new technology and the rule changes would protect people using paths and roads.

"Rideables have size and weight requirements and must only be ridden to a maximum speed of no more than 25km/h," he said.

"They must also have effective brakes and nothing sharp that could injure a pedestrian.

"Helmets must be worn while riding and users cannot carry passengers.

"Children under 12 are not allowed to ride and those under 16 must be supervised by an adult.

"Users must ride in a safe and respectful manner, giving way to pedestrians, and travel at a safe speed to ensure they can stop to avoid collisions.

"Rideables can travel on paths, including the bicycle side of a shared path.

"They cannot travel on Brisbane roads, and riders should avoid interacting with traffic.

"Existing fines for the incorrect use of personal mobility devices have increased to $130 to ensure new rideables are used safely.

"Speeding on a rideable will still incur the existing $174 fine."

Mr Bailey said people should also ride responsibly during the festive season.

"It's important to remember, especially during Christmas and New Year celebrations, that drinking and riding do not mix," he said.

"We want everyone to get home safely and enjoy the holidays with their friends and families.

"If you're drinking, make sure you have a lift legend and don't drive or ride.

"Dangerous riding behaviour can and will be enforced by the Queensland Police Service."

ENDS

[Stillwater]

Am I speeding if I drive my personal four-wheel mobility scooter on a bicycle path at a speed of 20 kph?  Will my granny have to wear a crash helmet to propel herself to the shops and back via off-road paths?   How will this be policed?  Will the cops have pathfinder mobility scooters in blue with a flashing light?

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Some coarse language ..

[Stillwater]

The website info: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/wheeled-devices/personal-mobility-devices

But is a motorised wheelchair a 'rideable'?

TMR advice says:

To be registered, your motorised wheelchair must:
- have an electric motor
- be designed and built for a person with mobility difficulties
- have a tare weight of 150kg or less
- not be capable of travelling more than 10km/h on level ground.

And here:

All mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs are restricted by law to a maximum speed of 10km/h and a maximum tare weight of 110kgs.

What Mr Bailey says:

"New rules come into effect today to support the expanding range of 'rideable' devices being used by Queenslanders.  Rideables have size and weight requirements and must only be ridden to a maximum speed of no more than 25km/h."

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail --> Lime scooters for hire vandalised, left in dangerous locations

NEWLY legalised electric scooters are set to infiltrate streets around the state, but authorities have failed to rigorously monitor them during the sole trial of their use.

The lack of reliable data about injuries, traffic infringments or vandalism since Lime Scooters were granted a permit to operate on Brisbane footpaths last month comes as lawyers warn that riders and authorities could face a string of lawsuits.

Concerns have also been raised about scooters being vandalised and dumped in dangerous locations, posing a risk to pedestrians, cyclists and other scooter riders.

In New Zealand, hundreds of public insurance claims for injuries have already been lodged in two cities that allowed Lime to operate just a month before they hit Brisbane streets.

Shine Lawyers solicitor Sarah Grace said she expected the state's decision last week to legalise the electric scooters would lead to increased uptake and more injuries.

"I just can't see how people operating scooters on footpaths in Brisbane City is not going to result in pedestrian injuries especially as pedestrian aren't going to be on the lookout for them," she said.

She said potential lawsuits could target the rider, Lime Scooters, the State Government or local councils.

Bennett & Philp Lawyers injury compensation law specialist Trent Johnson said the Brisbane City Council should regulate speed limits on busy footpaths and where the scooters could be parked.

"At present, we are seeing users of the scooters weaving between pedestrians and I have no doubt that we will see accidents and injuries," he said.
A Transport Department spokeswoman said authorities had been working for over 18 months to devise regulations for "electronic transport options".

She also said it had worked closely with Lime Scooters to confirm compliance with its permit conditions, which run until December 31.

However she could not provide details about what had been monitored during the trial or the criteria used to determine if they were safe.

She said the department did not know how many infringements notices had been issued to electronic scooter riders since the trial started as there was a three-month lag in getting data from police.

A police spokesman referred The Courier-Mail back to the department.

A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said the organisation's search parameters did not go into enough detail to provide information on the number of patients involved in scooter incidents.

A spokesman for the Brisbane City Council said a tender process for a company to operate a scooter hire scheme would open next year.

But he refused to detail how many complaints had been made to council since the rentable scooters started operating or the nature of any complaints.

"There have been several queries per day received by council about e-scooters on a range of matters but no reports to council of any injuries," he said.

He said regulation was a matter for the State Government to be enforced by police.

A spokeswoman for Lime Scooters did not respond to a series of emailed questions.

The company had previously said Brisbane residents had "embraced" the service.

More than 50,000 trips were recorded in the first two weeks of operation with the company putting hundreds of scooters out for riders.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1074323277093326848

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1074581043473113088

[James]

James has had the opportunity to use Lime scooters a few times in the past few weeks. They are a great gap filler - CityCycle didn't do it, so Lime has come along with dockless scooters and made the last 1-2km between high-frequency transit and my home that much easier (and effortless) to reach.

Some feedback I have is:
1. Footpaths
Lime scooters don't have inflatable rubber tyres like bicycles, so you feel every single bump. Combine this with the drops as you go to cross a road via a footpath crossing, this makes for a very unpleasant and slow riding experience. If you're on a bikeway, Lime is fun. If you're on a poorly maintained suburban footpath, Lime is either not much faster than walking, or too harrowing. If you're on a congested footpath, you risk injury to hundreds of people. This leads to my next point.
2. Roads
Because footpaths are grossly inadequate, people ride on suburban streets. In particularly, TMR has a law that scooter riders cannot ride on the road at night or ride on roads with posted speeds above 60km/h. I have broken both rules because:
a) The footpaths are bumpy and narrow, and
b) The footpaths are uneven, meaning when I tried to do the right thing, I ended up hitting a lump in the footpath, flying off and smashing into the concrete. -1 pair of pants, -1 skin on nose, +1 bleeding knee.
3. Speed limit
This is partially a design issue, but it is difficult to see the speed odometer and it is difficult to judge speed. While the scooters are "limited" to 27km/h, James has obtained higher speeds on downhill slopes. Given how inactive policing is these days (flash for cash and Wall-E being the main forms of speed policing), I don't see how this can be policed.

The new rules reek of a half-baked TMR job, made worse by this urge to legislate by the end of the year. I would be surprised if any bureaucrat making this decision has ever rode a Lime. When laws like this are poorly written, people will just totally ignore them - like I intend to next time I use Lime. The fine will pay for itself if I manage to avoid ripping another pair of pants on our third-world footpaths!

Going forward, the best way would be to treat Lime like bicycles, only restricting use on roads above 60km/h without shoulders and requiring riders to wear hi-visibility vests at night if on roads.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> RIDE E-scooters in Gold Coast Council crosshairs after launching without approval

AN electric scooter hire business launched on the Gold Coast this week is already in the council's crosshairs, with officers threatening to seize scooters dumped on footpaths.

Ride On Australia launched a widespread trial yesterday, with dozens of its eye-catching black and yellow electric scooters now available for hire through its RIDE app around Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads.

The pilot program comes just a week after the State Government legalised the use of electric scooters on footpaths with a maximum speed limit of 25km/h.

However Ride is using a loophole to dodge council approval and said it was unlikely to apply until next year, setting the scene for a showdown with the local authority.

Co-founder and acting chief executive Aaron LaLux said the business had submitted a proposal to the council but a formal application had not been approved for the business.

"(Council) have said that they need more information about this sort of operational model before they can make a decision, so our response was if you want more information then we'll go ahead and do a trial," he said.

"We are operating completely legally and we are working with council to get a working memorandum of understanding in place so that we can have very clear definition of what can and cannot be done."

The company is taking advantage of a loophole by paying existing local businesses, like cafes, to act as collection points for the scooters.

However users are also free to leave them out on public property to be collected for charging overnight.

"The law on the books is that we cannot base our operations on public property," Mr LaLux said.

"We're able to respond fast, so if one is left on a footpath (council) can contact us and we can deal with it so that we're not pulling any additional resources from them."

A Gold Coast City Council spokeswoman said the council had no knowledge of the company launch until it was approached by the Gold Coast Bulletin this week.

She said the council would keep a close eye on the business and take action against any offences.

"They do not have a permit or approval to operate in the city from public land and the city is also investigating potential development compliance issues," she said.

"The city is closely monitoring the situation and will take appropriate enforcement action if required, noting that scooters abandoned on public property may be seized."

A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said last week's state legislation around "rideables'' only dealt with the legality of the scooters and did not cover business operators.

What are RIDE scooters?

● App-based electric scooter hire at Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Burleigh.

● Hire for $1, then pay 25 cents for every minute used.

● 10pm curfew.

● Legal to use on footpaths.

● Riders must be over 12 years old and wear a helmet.

● To create an account, riders must have a credit card and driver's licence.

● Scooters collected from local businesses that act as "hubs".

● Locals can earn $7 per scooter for collecting and charging them at home overnight.

● Riders can be reported by members of the public for bad behaviour.

[techblitz]

noted 5 of these dumped/parked around the grey/tribune st pedestrian lights......they ARE an eyesore and I am confident lime will eventually be told to make arrangments for designated dumping zones...specifically away from very busy intersections eg the one mentioned above which connects the southbank rail and bus stations.....

Are people also forgetting that these things can potentially be used as weapons if someone in a highly aggravated state got their hands on them??

[James]

noted 5 of these dumped/parked around the grey/tribune st pedestrian lights......they ARE an eyesore and I am confident lime will eventually be told to make arrangments for designated dumping zones...specifically away from very busy intersections eg the one mentioned above which connects the southbank rail and bus stations.....

Are people also forgetting that these things can potentially be used as weapons if someone in a highly aggravated state got their hands on them??

They're pretty heavy and awkward to move around if you don't use the wheels, yet alone if you tried throwing one. An aggravated person would probably do themselves more harm than the other person.

[techblitz]

I'm wondering if the people who recharge them are purposely re-positioning them along the high foot traffic areas for increased visual exposure......in the case of grey/tribune sts....there would be far less visual exposure if they were forced to re-position them out of the way under the rail bridge with all the mopeds etc...

[Stillwater]

There is a wave of these things coming.  Australia can regulate their presence via Australian Standards and via blanket bans on their import, but there is likely to be public demand for such personal mobility vehicles the better the battery storage and recharge capabilities.

https://www.microscooters.com.au/electric-scooters





It is not just about grannies driving traditional mobility devices at 10kph.  A whole new generation has discovered these things and companies such as Lime can see a buck in it.

The National Transport Commission is playing catch-up.

https://www.ntc.gov.au/current-projects/barriers-to-the-safe-use-of-innovative-vehicles-and-mobility-devices

Mr Bailey and Co. need to have another look at the wave of personal mobility devices hitting the market.

[AnonymouslyBad]

I'm wondering if the people who recharge them are purposely re-positioning them along the high foot traffic areas for increased visual exposure......in the case of grey/tribune sts....there would be far less visual exposure if they were forced to re-position them out of the way under the rail bridge with all the mopeds etc...

Yep, recharged ones are put back wherever Lime directs the person to put them. Not necessarily the same place they were picked up from.

[verbatim9]

^^Some good research there. Not too keen on those electric uni ch6cles (mono wheels) but I have seen them out and about and can see the appeal.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1078309859504795649

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast council puts squeeze on Lime scooters ahead of proposed rollout

GOLD Coast City Council has declared war on controversial community electric scooter hire service Lime before the company even rolls on to the Glitter Strip, threatening to seize scooters from the streets.

Lime, which has come under fire over injuries and scooters left littering footpaths since being introduced in Brisbane last month, plans to launch the service on the Coast today.

Lime – a San Francisco-based start-up now worth about $14 billion and active in 130 cities – said it was 'looking to transform the GC into a hub of cleaner, greener, more accessible transportation' as it embarked on an Australian rollout. Picture: Lime

But the city council said it had "no knowledge" Lime was coming to town until a media alert went out yesterday.

"They do not have a permit or approval to operate in the city from public land, and the city is also investigating potential development compliance issues," council transport director Alton Twine said.

"The city is closely monitoring the situation and will take appropriate enforcement action if required, noting that scooters abandoned on public property may be seized."

The Coast is already plagued with problems from electric mopeds, which cause chaos during Schoolies as teenagers tear up streets and footpaths on the machines.

Gold Coast city council said it had "no knowledge" Lime was coming to town and that the company "does not have a permit or approval to operate in the city from public land". Picture: AAP/David Clark

In September, Coast Mayor Tom Tate called for a State Government crackdown on e-bikes and skateboards after several near-misses with pedestrians on Surfers Paradise Esplanade.

Leading Brisbane personal injuries lawyer Trent Johnson this month described electric scooters as a 'nightmare on wheels' and warned riders could be liable for any injuries during the Lime trial which runs until Monday.

Shine Lawyers solicitor Sarah Grace said she expected the State Government's decision to legalise the electric scooters would lead to more injuries.

Last week, The Courier-Mail revealed that two Brisbane residents had suffered serious injuries including broken legs after falling from Lime Scooters.

In New Zealand, hundreds of public insurance claims for injuries have already been lodged in two cities that allowed Lime to operate just a month before they hit Brisbane streets.

In the media alert for its Gold Coast launch, Lime – a San Francisco-based start-up now worth about $14 billion and active in 130 cities – said it was 'looking to transform the GC into a hub of cleaner, greener, more accessible transportation' as it embarked on an Australian rollout.

"Lime's commitment to improving city living and urban transportation infrastructure has transformed travel across the globe, expanding to more than 130 markets and clocking 20 million rides in 18 months," the company said.

Gold Coast streets and footpaths have also been littered with dumped pushbikes since the council approved community bike hire scheme Mobike last year.

Last week, The Courier-Mail revealed that two Brisbane residents were injured after falling from Lime scooters.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1078311013412331522

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Lime ordered to remove scooters off Gold Coast streets 'in two hours'

The company behind the electric scooters that have taken over Brisbane has copped a warning to remove its scooters from the Gold Coast within two hours of their roll-out there.

Lime scooters were placed on the footpaths of the Gold Coast on Friday, following a scooter trial that launched in Brisbane in November and a trial of electric bikes in Sydney the same month.

Lime has plans to launch more transport-hire services in cities throughout Australia.

In a press release ahead of the Gold Coast launch, Lime government affairs director Mitchell Price said feedback from the Gold Coast had been "overwhelmingly positive".

The council was not impressed.

Council transport director Alton Twine said on Friday Lime had two hours to remove the scooters from the Gold Coast's streets and footpaths before it would step in and confiscate them.

"This morning Lime scooters have put some scooters out on the streets, which is actually in breach of one of our laws, so we'll be serving them with a notice of complaints today," he said.

He said there could be a financial penalty if the scooters were not removed as the operation went against local laws in relation to the use of public spaces.

"They have to actually get permission from council, similar to what we've done with the motorbike operation," he said.

"What we don't accept in the city is operators just turning up and essentially plonking their products down on city streets and footpaths.

"We would prefer people to come up and talk to us and the disappointing thing is that Lime did talk to us and they've chosen to set up anyway."

    What we don't accept in the city is operators just turning up and essentially plonking their products down on city streets and footpaths.
    Council transport director Alton Twine

Mr Twine said council needed to undertake a study of the operation before approving the use of Lime scooters, holding concerns over increased foot traffic and grey areas involving liability with crashes.

"We need, first of all, to consider public safety because essentially it's a new form of transport (and) review what's happened in other cities and bring a report back to council," he said.

"We're concerned about overcrowding on footpaths anyway.

"We have areas, particularly on the coastal part, where we have a lot of users so adding even more is something which we need to consider properly."

Speaking with Brisbane Times on Friday, Mr Price said Lime had not received any notice to remove scooters within two hours.

"It's funny they say they weren't advised the scooters would be launched on the Gold Coast even though the first meeting we had with them was in July," he said.

"We have had a number of meetings with council since and sent them an email last week of the launch.

"We advised them that if they failed to do something about the other e-scooters already being used on the Gold Coast for the past two weeks then we would proceed with the launch.

"We even spoke to two councillors this morning and there was no mention of this issue."

Mr Price accused the council of "playing politics with scooters" and "being out of step".

"They hadn't done anything to stop that company and now this heavy-handed approach from council towards our scooters, taking their resources to remove them is very disappointing," he said.

Mr Price said scooters on footpaths were not illegal in Queensland.

"This is where council has got themselves caught into a loophole is whether you're able to path the scooters," he said.

"If the scooter is deemed to be inappropriately parked, our team will move it.

"Two hours is enough time for us to ensure the work is done but we have not been sent an email to take the scooters off the street.

"I call on the Gold Coast council to talk to us, let's sit down and work to find a solution instead of being the cops and saying no."

Mr Price said congestion and parking were significant barriers to locals and tourists enjoying the coast that scooters could alleviate.

"Why can't council have a better use of the ratepayers' money to help with congestion rather than removing scooters off the street?

"I am on The Esplanade right now and the streets are congested and cars parked incorrectly but council hasn't got a solution."

Despite a safety push from Lime, scooter riders can still be seen zipping around Brisbane at high speeds without helmets.

The Queensland government set out new rules for scooter riders, including a speed limit of 25km/h for "rideables" and helmets must be worn.

A new fine of $130 was created for the "incorrect use of personal mobility devices", while speeding will incur a $174 fine.

According to Gold Coast City Council, Lime was the second e-scooter business that had tried to set up in the city in December.

Mr Twine said this was a great concern to council, especially because it was illegal to operate a business in a public space without receiving permission.

"Public safety is our number one concern and this is entirely new to us ...that's why these things need to be considered with due process and not just undertaken on the fly."

Mr Twine said the other e-scooter business was now operating from a private property.

"It removes them from the concerns of having the scooters out on public lands but we're investigating whether they are fully compliant with city plan," he said.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1078542147228393472

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082686265940561921

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1083071509306867712

[techblitz]

yesterday noticed two limes parked on southbank bus station platform 1......so got me wondering if they are allowed on buses.....asked an EF depot driver today and he said nope......definitely not allowed...due to their size...smaller scooters are but not limes....

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1085569457336987648

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane City Council open to being sued over Lime scooters, says top legal firm

The Brisbane City Council may be leaving itself wide open to a lawsuit by not ensuring Lime provides helmets with all of its electric scooters.

Shine Lawyer's solicitor Sarah Grace said there may even be grounds for an injured pedestrian to launch action against the State Government for allowing e-scooters to be ridden at speeds of up to 25k/h on a footpath.

The speed limit for e-scooters in Perth is 10km/h.

Ms Grace said the waters had yet to be tested over the liability of state and local government, but potentially they could both be named in a lawsuit, as well as Lime, for personal injury or loss of life.

She said it would be reasonable for the council, as a public authority, to ensure a helmet was provided with each scooter as a response to the potential risk, because they approved their use on Brisbane footpaths, parks and walkways.

"They (State Government and BCC) are potentially liable," Ms Grace said.

"If they made it something like 10km/h it would act as a deterrent to people riding them as a bit if fun and as opposed to a means of transport."

"The BCC has essentially said let's just see how it goes and in the circumstances I think that what makes them liable if someone is injured."

Since their introduction late last year, about one person a day had presented at the Mater Hospital with a serious injury, said Director Emergency Medicine Dr Greg Treston.

He said Lime Scooter" specific information was collected after presentations were observed through the emergency department in November.

"Typical injuries associated with scooter presentations include serious abrasions, broken bones and sprains," Dr Treston said.

Ms Grace said the number of injuries being recorded at one hospital was enough to raise concerns but the problem was likely to be far greater and widespread.

"That's one hospital and doesn't include people who don't report their injuries or who report to a GP and not a hospital," she said.

Although there were plenty of scooters parked around the CBD without an accompanying helmet, a Lime spokesman said their riders respected the law and knew helmets must be warn.

The spokesman said they "do not keep track" of how many helmets have gone missing.

"Safety is our number one priority, which we try to provide helmets for all our riders," the spokesman said.

"Wearing a helmet is part of the user agreement and we encourage our riders to wear a helmet, whether that be their own or one supplied by Lime, through our in-app messaging."

A Brisbane City Council spokesman said they do not conduct audits or place any obligation on Lime to provide a helmet with each e-scooter.

"Lime was issued a permit that outlined conditions on where the e-scooters can be placed and where they cannot be used, including South Bank Parklands, Roma Street Parklands and any area designated as a mall, he said.

"Helmets are mandatory under State law and is not something Council regulates or enforces," the spokesman said.

"Queensland Police is responsible for enforcing helmet requirements."