Sunshine Coast Council and Australia’s leading e-scooter operator, Neuron Mobility, launched an e-scooter and e-bike program today. The 18-month trial will see a gradual roll-out of 400 of Neuron’s distinctive orange e-scooters and up to 75 e-bikes throughout a 13km2 riding area across Maroochydore and Mooloolaba.
The company’s high-visibility “safety-orange” e-scooters and e-bikes are equipped with advanced geofencing technology which will control where they will be ridden and how fast they can travel in certain areas.
There will be a series no-ride zones as well as low-speed zones set in areas of high pedestrian traffic. Geofencing will also ensure they are only parked in one of the designated parking stations located across the city. The trial will also launch with Neuron’s new Augmented Reality (AR) Parking Assistant technology which will further improve parking compliance.
To encourage safety and familiarise residents and tourists of Sunshine Coast with the riding rules, Neuron will be running a number of ScootSafe events including; Thursday June 8, 11am – 4pm at Mooloolaba Beach Foreshore, and 11am – 4pm Saturday 10 June at Cotton Tree Park, as well as deploying their Safety Ambassadors on the ground at key times of the day over the launch period.
Riders who visit the ScootSafe events will have the opportunity to take a short safety briefing and will be able to earn free credits for future rides. Users will also be directed to the company’s industry-leading online education platform, ScootSafe Academy, where they can complete gamified modules teaching them how to ride an e-scooter and e-bike safely.
We are delighted to be launching our e-scooters and e-bikes on the Sunshine Coast, and look forward to partnering with the Council to deliver a safe and convenient service to help people move around Maroochydore and Mooloolaba.
Tim Morris, Regional Manager at Neuron Mobility,:
We encourage everyone to come and say hi to our Safety Ambassadors at our ScootSafe events or to visit our online ScootSafe Academy to learn how to use our e-scooters and e-bikes in a safe and responsible way, anyone who completes the modules will win free credits.
We have worked closely with the council to set up a number of designated parking stations across the riding zone, riders will only be able to end their trip in these stations. There are also a number of slow-zones and no-rides zones so we encourage riders to check the app before they start their trip, and plan their journey accordingly.
E-scooters are a great new mode of transport and they are having a positive impact in many Australian cities. However riders must stay alert, behave responsibly and follow the rules. We’re urging all riders to be responsible.
Russell White, CEO of ARSF :
Don’t be complacent, don’t drink and ride, and please wear a helmet even on the shortest trip – Neuron’s e-scooters all have one provided. Be aware of the riding environment, pedestrians and others, and remove distractions, including earphones.
Neuron’s e-scooters are packed with safety features. They all have integrated helmets, bigger wheels, a wide deck, an emergency button to name a few. Ultimately, the onus is also on e-scooter riders to abide by the riding rules. We can all do our part to keep ourselves and the people around us out of harm’s way.
Neuron’s e-scooters and e-bikes help reduce car use and congestion, improve air quality, as well as boost the local economy. A recent report, titled Shared Rides, Shared Wealth, revealed that two thirds of Neuron e-scooter journeys result in a purchase with a local business across Australia and 46% of trips reduce a car journey. According to the findings, each Neuron e-scooter contributes AUD $70,000 to local economies per year, with riders spending an average of $65 at local businesses per trip.
Riders will be able to unlock and use the e-scooters and e-bikes through Neuron’s user-friendly app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play and set up in a matter of minutes. Standard single trips will cost $1 to unlock the e-scooter and 51 cents per minute thereafter.
Frequent riders will have the option to purchase Neuron Passes, allowing users to ride for as little as $3.30 a day for up to 90 minutes. Riders on the Sunshine Coast will also benefit from Neuron Access which provides up to 50% off the weekly and monthly pass for concession card holders. Neuron riders are also covered by extensive insurance, including personal accident insurance and third party insurance at no additional cost.
Neuron’s e-scooters have been purpose-built to a commercial grade specifically for renting they are equipped with larger 11.5” wheels and wider footplates, and are fitted with cutting edge safety-features including; an app-controlled helmet lock, voice guidance, a Follow My Ride feature, an emergency button and topple detection.
New Neuron riders are required to sign up to a comprehensive list of riding rules before they are allowed to take their first trip. All this information appears regularly in the app, plus there’s voice guidance to remind people of some of the key points, and even stickers on the e-scooters with the main dos and don’ts.
As always, it’s important to pay attention to local laws.
Important Riding Rules and Safety Tips for Queensland:
- Neuron riders must be 16 years old and above
- Only one rider allowed device, no tandem riding with children
- Wearing a helmet is mandatory, there is one on every e-scooter and e-bike
- Do not ride under the influence of alcohol or any other substance
- E-scooters can be ridden on footpaths and shared paths at a speed of 12km/h, unless signed otherwise
- E-scooters can also be ridden in bike lanes on roads with a speed limit of 50km/h or less, on-road bike lanes that are physically separated
- E-scooter can be ridden on low-speed roads with a speed limit less than 50km/h and no dividing line
- E-scooters cannot be ridden in bike lanes on roads over 50km/h
- E-bikes can be ridden on bicycle lanes, roads, footpaths and shared paths except where bicycles are prohibited
- Maintain a safe distance between riders and pedestrians
- Give way to pedestrians and mobility devices (such as wheelchairs) at all times
- Park responsibly in designated parking areas, ensure vehicles are parked upright
