Hobart City Council pulls e-scooters from the street, cites ‘safety, behavioural concerns’ in transition to e-bikes

Source : Perth Now news

E-scooters are being pulled from the streets of Hobart over major safety and behavioural concerns flagged by the local council.

Hobart City Council on Tuesday confirmed it would transition from a “shared micromobility program” to e-bikes only – planning to put out a tender for “smaller, more compact” bikes better suited to the city’s public spaces.

Beam Mobility currently provides hire-and-ride services for Hobart City Council.

Current regulations permit the use of e-scooters on most footpaths, shared paths, bike paths and roads with a speed limit under 50km/h.

Riders must also be over the age of 16 and wear a helmet.

In a statement, Hobart City Council said there were “ongoing regulatory, safety and behavioural concerns” surrounding the use of e-scooters across the city.

This included inappropriate parking on footpaths.

“E-bikes, by contrast, are generally used as a transport mode rather than a recreational device, resulting in more predictable and compliant behaviour,” the council’s statement continues.

“The decision aligns with broader national and international trends, with many cities increasingly favouring e-bike focused shared schemes due to their versatility, safety profile and suitability for longer trips.”

In December, a 14 year old girl was seriously injured after her e-scooter collided with a car in Risdon Vale, an outer suburb of Hobart.

On New Year’s Eve, a Devonport boy, 15, died after his e-bike crashed into a pole in the state’s northwest.

Council usage data over the 15 months from December 2024 to February 2026, about 13,300 trips were recorded each month – covering about 16,600km.

“The shared micromobility program has demonstrated strong community interest in low emissions, convenient travel options. However, it has become clear that a mixed e-scooter and e-bike hire model is not the best fit for Hobart,” the council’s statement continues.

Transport committee chair and councillor Ryan Posselt said the e-bike model was expected to improve safety outcomes and better integrate with the city’s existing cycling infrastructure.

“E-bikes also support active transport, delivering public health benefits alongside emissions reduction,” he said.

A University of Melbourne study found there were 37 e-scooter deaths from 2020-2025 across the nation – a third of which involved children.