2019-04-15 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                    15 APRIL 2019


Risks
1.      The community is likely to expect Council to manage and impound abandoned, improperly
        or dangerously parked dockless scooters irrespective of the operator’s effort to direct
        enquiries through their communication channels.
2.      As per other local government areas, it is likely competitive tension will quickly emerge in
        the form of other electric scooters or other shared mobility device operations without
        Council having time to understand the full impacts. On 8 April 2019, Council received an
        enquiry from another electric scooter hire company.
3.      Local government experience elsewhere relating to dockless share bicycle operations
        highlights significant resourcing is required from Local Laws and senior officer time to
        receive, investigate and address community concerns regarding safety and amenity (see
        Attachment 1).
4.      The insurance risk to Council is unknown but it is likely Council will be exposed to
        insurance claims given the experiences of other local governments.
5.      Environmental and visual pollution is likely (i.e. dumping in waterways, parks and beaches)
        irrespective of the operator’s proposal to ensure the drop off points are set locations
        because the scooters are mobile.
6.      Infrastructure Design – Gympie Terrace to Hastings Street is the primary link for a shared
        mobility device offering. On 25 February 2019, Council sought advice from the Department
        of Transport and Main Roads regarding how to encourage and manage these additional
        modes (see Attachment 2). Council expects the response from the Department may
        contain advice regarding suitable infrastructure design requirements to facilitate shared
        mobility devices.
7.      There are well publicised safety concerns with electric scooters (see Attachment 1).
8.      The model encourages speed given the cost per minute hire of riding time.
9.      Council will be pressured to extend the trial period.

Option 2:        Not issue a permit to any shared mobility device providers to allow further
                 consideration of all issues

This option involves Council refusing the permit application from Neon Ride or any other shared
mobility device operation on community land, including shared bicycles etc. until the risks and
identified issues in other local government areas have been properly assessed by Council’s
Infrastructure Services Department and an appropriate evidence based management strategy
has been developed in response to manage those issues.

Opportunities
a)      Allows Council to take a considered approach to the implementation of the shared mobility
        device model and monitor and learn from the experiences of other local governments, such
        as Brisbane City Council.
b)      Allows Council to continue its collaboration with the Department of Transport and Main
        Roads and work with the Department regarding shared mobility devices and infrastructure
        design implications etc.
c)      Allows Council to consider the outcome of the National Transport Commission
        investigations and ensuing discussion paper scheduled for release in June 2019 regarding
        the safe use of electric scooters in Australia.

Risks
1.      Council will be seen to be prevaricating in its response as the proposal will be deemed to
        have merit by sectors of the community and should be actioned as soon as possible.
2.      Council will be seen as a ‘killjoy’ by not allowing this business to provide fun transport
        options.
3.      Council’s actions will be interpreted as not supporting alternate transport options and not
        doing enough to dissuade reliance on the private car.

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