Image: Shutterstock, r.classen
by GRACE JOHNSON
City of Sydney has delayed calls for an e-scooter trial in the city centre until the separated cycleway network is completed.
At the last City of Sydney council meeting, Councillor Shauna Jarrett put forward a motion calling on Council to take action on implementing an e-scooter trial, following a successful trial in Wollongong.
“The City of Sydney has been stuck in the car ages when it comes to alternative green transportation,” said Councillor Jarrett to City Hub.
“Constituents and businesses have contacted me highlighting the need for this reliable transportation option,” she continued.
“As we look to meet our net-zero target, the City must embrace different innovative transport options and e-scooters should be part of our transport matrix to help achieve our targets.”
Councillor Jarrett had previously requested that City of Sydney participate in the NSW Government’s e-scooter trial, which was scheduled to begin in July 2022. Councillor William Chan, a registered architect, amended the motion and instead requested the CEO “monitor the progress of the e-scooter trials in other locations over the next 12-18 months and report back to Councillors”. This amendment was carried.
Successful trial in Wollongong
Wollongong City Council was the first city centre in NSW to launch a dedicated e-scooter trial which has been operating since 29 September 2023.
A report released by Neuron on 20 October 2023, titled ‘Stronger rider demand continues’, found that between 29 September and 13 November, over 17,000 people took more than 46,000 trips on the 300-strong e-scooter fleet operating in Wollongong, with a total distance of over 100,000km being travelled.
The trial in Wollongong has also seen e-scooter trips replace 45,000km of car trips, which is estimated to have saved approximately six tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Furthermore, in Wollongong alone, around 30,000 e-scooter trips have resulted in a purchase from a local business either immediately before or after a rider’s journey, resulting in an estimated $200,000 of incremental spend at local restaurants and businesses.
Over a year after Councillor Jarrett first requested that Council implement a similar e-scooter trial, she has again put forward the motion. But again, Councillor Chan amended the motion to wait until the separated cycle network is completed before trialling e-scooters, due to concerns regarding high pedestrian activity in the city centre and the risks of people travelling on e-scooters on crowded footpaths.
To City Hub, Councillor Jarrett said, “By the Clover Moore Independents’ logic, we should not be using bicycles and e-bikes until all our cycleways are completed and in turn the same applies for e-scooters.”
“This once again shows the City of Sydney being a follower rather than a leader when it comes to being at the forefront of innovative, green transport alternatives.”
E-scooter debate
Speaking to his amendments, Councillor Chan said, “Firstly, the NSW Government trial assessment report is not yet available. And secondly, the need to prioritise safe infrastructure for e-scooter riding within the City of Sydney remains critical.”
“I also want to point out that the Wollongong data presented tonight is from Neuron Mobility, the commercial share scheme operator of the e-scooters from the Wollongong program,” he continued.
“The NSW Government is yet to confirm or to formally assess the scooter trial across various trial locations.”
There was a greater concern surrounding e-scooters, despite bikes and e-bikes being on the road, as e-scooters cannot join the flow of vehicle traffic.
“The reality of the City of Sydney is that we have higher levels of path congestion and contested space compared to other councils in regional centres,” said Councillor Chan. “It is critical that e-scooters are not in conflict with pedestrians or vehicles.”
Lord Mayor Clover Moore used her casting vote to carry the amendments.
It’s a “people era”
Councillor Adam Worling refuted Councillor Jarrett’s claims that Sydney was behind other major cities in Australia and internationally, saying “The City is a leader in advocating for and delivering sustainable, active and public transport options.”
“The City has built 25km of bike lanes and 60 kilometres of shared paths since Clover Moore has been mayor and bike trips have more than doubled since 2010 when independent counts began,” he continued. “We are also are seeing women and children more encouraged to bike ride as they feel safer to ride with dedicated and separated bike lanes.”
Far from being in the car ages, we are moving into a “people era”, Councillor Worling says.
“There is the light rail and the transformation of George Street from a bus polluting sewer to a tree lined boulevard that has seen a $8billion of business investment along this precinct. I believe we are definitely moving into a ‘people era’.”
Expressing his frustration with the claim that we’re stuck in the “car ages”, Councillor Worling said, “To hear again that a fellow councillor believes the City of Sydney is still in a car age, makes me wonder do they get out and about enough?”
