After more than 1.3 million km travelled and two-and-a-half years in the Bundaberg Region Neuron Mobility e-scooter program will be extended for a further 12 months.
Bundaberg Regional Council has renewed the contract with Neuron Mobility to continue its e-scooter operations in Bundaberg and Bargara for another year with an option to extend every 12 months, for up to three years.
Since first launching in April 2021, over 55,000 people have travelled on Neuron’s e-scooters across Bundaberg and Bargara.
According to Neuron’s 2023 rider survey in Bundaberg, 40% of Neuron trips were replacing car journeys, reducing an estimated 95 tonnes of Co2 while also helping support the region's sustainability goals.
The average trip length in Bundaberg is 2.5 km with Neuron's recent research highlighting many riders with disabilities or mobility impairments reported hiring of e-scooters significantly improved their urban accessibility, with 11% of Bundaberg Region riders reporting having a disability or mobility impairment.
Bundaberg Regional Council Sport and Recreation portfolio spokesperson Cr Vince Habermann said Neuron Mobility e-scooters had provided a boost for the region and it was pleasing to see the program extended for a further 12 months.
“The popular Neuron Mobility e-scooters have travelled more than 1.3 million km in the Bundaberg Region since its inception in 2021,” Cr Habermann said.
“As one of the first regional cities in Australia to launch the e-scooters it is pleasing to see local commuters turning toward using this mode of transportation.
“E-scooters have also allowed locals and tourist alike to explore our beautiful city as well as getting from A to B for work and study.”
Cr Habermann said safety was a priority for both Neuron Mobility and the wider community.
“Neuron Mobility has proved to be good corporate citizens in our region,” he said.
“Importantly, they have always displayed a strong commitment to safety.
“Since the introduction of e-scooters to the Bundaberg Region, the State Government has introduced a raft of e-scooter reforms which relate to the use of all e-scooters, and police have enforced regulations.”
Neuron Mobility’s Tim Morris said he was excited to see the e-scooters continue in the Bundaberg Region.
“After two and a half successful years in Bundaberg our e-scooters have become an important part of the city's transport mix,” Tim said.
“We are delighted Bundaberg Regional Council has decided to renew.
“Overwhelmingly there’s been positive feedback about the service.”
Neuron reports that e-scooters are having a positive economic impact on the city with each e-scooter contributing $70,000 to local economies per year, with riders spending an average of $65 at a local business per trip.
“Many people are making trips they wouldn’t otherwise have made, and it is great to see e-scooters benefit local businesses and the community as a whole,” Tim said.
“They are a great way for locals as well as tourists to travel in a safe, convenient and fun way.
“We thank the Bundaberg Regional Council for their continued trust and support.”
With out the rule’s and laws being upheld or even users being notified they are just two dangerous, most are not even road worthy.
That and the parks being full of undesirables means my family will be moving out of Bundaberg.
I continue to see people not using helmets, teenagers or young adults as two ups and under age children riding these scooters in the BARGARA area.
I appreciate the pictures you shared of responsible scooter riders. Unfortunately, it’s disappointing that we don’t witness this behavior more often in real life. Many riders neglect to wear helmets and overcrowd their scooters, putting themselves and others at risk while going at high speeds. I remember how much nicer Bargara was before the introduction of these scooters. However, some individuals prioritize progress and financial gain over the overall quality of life in the area.
What scooters? The scooters from the CBD are practically all gone I see 1 or 2 every now & then. Considering I both work & live in the CBD I should see them much more. There usto be many banks of them parked in the mornings before they had been used not anymore.
Likely either they have been stolen or there is a limited amount that they are only supplying to get the contract & then move the majority onto the next trial area.
Dose virtually nothing to address the issue & just allows our do nothing regional council to continue to do nothing to improve public transport for several more years. We need a proper solution to handle the issue like a light rail, subway or trams.
What about when Bundaberg hits 200k-300k+ people living here? Act now… are we going to go to have thousands of E-Scooters? Are we going to flood our town with taxis?
Most of the people I see using them are quite young & look like they have good mobility they should buy a bike, jog or walk instead better for there health. Bikes & jogging would also be faster for many people then the scooter.
2.5KM is not very far ditch the scooter & get some exercise.