April, the month of Easter, which signifies renewed hope, also stands as a beacon of hope for electric scooter riders in Victoria, Melbourne.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, announced that the state government extended a six-month period to the trial at Victoria for hired e-scooters. At the same time, the ban will also be lifted on personal electric scooters, which are already widely sold by major retailers. The ban on private e-scooters is scheduled to be lifted on April 5. This is part of the extension of the divisive trial in which thousands of hired scooters have taken to inner-Melbourne streets.
Speaking of private electric scooters, Ride Hub Australia, Home of Electrified Beasts (E-Rides) which is based in Sydney is offering free delivery for any electric scooter purchase to Victoria or all of Melbourne, in fact, Australia-wide!
Ride Hub Australia carries a selection of e-rides like the best electric scooters, the amazing e-bike, and the interactive e-toys. For the e-scooters, customers can choose from premium electric scooters like Bolzzen, Ducati, E-Glide, Inokim, Kaabo, Mearth, Mercane, NIU, Segway, Unagi, Xiaomi, and Zero.
Without a doubt, e-rides are becoming an integral part of the Australian lifestyle and that is why the official Ride Hub Australia website has them all for customers. And time by time, e-scooters are becoming more and more popular and it feels like there is no stopping this outbreak. The fight to own or rent an electric scooter lives on in the hearts of many civilians. In fact, hired e-scooter companies started operating in January last year under a 12-month trial, and have recorded 3.7 million trips in Melbourne. That’s a huge number, and positively, this is good for Victoria. However, previously, Victoria classified privately owned e-scooters as unregistered vehicles and rode them in public with a fine of as much as $925 until the ban is lifted. But things are changing, but safety is still the #1 priority.
SAFETY FIRST
Horne continues, acknowledging the popularity of fast e-scooters, “We know e-scooters are popular with many Victorians – so we’re extending the trial in Victoria under these strict regulations to ensure people travel responsibly and safely.” After all, it really is all about the safety of the civilians on the e-scooter and around.
A speed limit of 20km/h will apply to all e-scooters under the trial and devices capable of traveling faster than 25 km/h will remain illegal. That will rule out some models available for sale which can reach up to 75 km/h.
Riders must also wear the approved helmet and be best paired with the safety gear needed, adhere to the same alcohol and drug restrictions as motorists, and not carry passengers. The minimum age for riders in the trial will be lowered from 18 to 16.
Private scooters will be permitted on roads with speed limits of up to 60 km/h (an increase from 50 km/h in the trial), in bike lanes, and on shared paths, but remain illegal on footpaths.
However, on footpaths, riders have spoken up about being forced to ride on footpaths illegally because Melbourne does not have enough bike lanes and they do not feel safe being on the road. Additionally, the city needs to dedicate parking spaces for hired and private scooters to stop them from being left blocking footpaths and endangering pedestrians – particularly the elderly and disabled. It’s all about order and discipline.
Horne said the government would carry out further work through the new six-month extension to understand product safety standards, rider education, and if fines for illegal behavior were suitable.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE
Without a doubt, convenient e-scooters provide a positive role in this world. Electric scooters offer a low-emission alternative to cars on short journeys, and fill gaps in the public transport network. They are also more compact, portable, and easy to maneuver. With Melbourne stepping up its e-scooter game, its new transport system will definitely benefit multitudes if ridden with care and caution.
On the flip side, a number of unfortunate incidents with electric scooters have already happened in the past which is what is causing the delay in e-scooter progression. It was well-noted that at least two people were killed in crashes involving private e-scooters in Victoria last year, and data from Monash University’s Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit show more than 400 people admitted to hospital in 2021/22. But reports show many of the people involved in the accidents were found without the approved helmet and safety gear. And like all things, recklessness can lead to dangerous paths. The factor of safety highly relies on the rider and how they ride. This is why, with the trial extended, the Victoria Police “will now take the time to understand the changes”. If things look up, who knows, maybe electric scooters can continue running for good.
CONVINCED TO GET AN E-SCOOTER?
Convinced to purchase your very own personal e-scooter? Head over to the official Ride Hub Australia website and enjoy the Easter Sale with as much as 20% off on your favorite e-rides!
As mentioned above, Ride Hub Australia provides customers with FREE SHIPPING for every purchase of an e-ride Australia-wide. The shipping schedule depends on the location. It may take 7-10 days to ship to Tasmania or 2-5 business days to New South Wales. Please expect delays that may occur depending on surrounding circumstances. You may also opt for Express Shipping with a minimal fee of $10 to $50 AUD depending on the delivery location.
For any purchases made at the Ride Hub Australia mall store, paying is as convenient as it is secure. The payment options include cash, cards like American Express, Mastercard, and Visa, and online platforms like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay, and PayPal. Less hassle, more time!
Catch Ride Hub Australia
Ride Hub Australia is located at 129 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW 2067.
To stay updated with discounts and promos, follow the social media accounts of Ride Hub Australia.
