July 29th, 2024E-scooter review in Ballarat

The City of Ballarat will conduct a review of the share hire e-scooter trial in an effort to determine how the transport option may look into the future.

The council’s review of the trial comes after the state government confirmed e-scooters will become permanently legalised in Victoria later this year.

New offences and an increase in fines for offences committed while riding e-scooters will be introduced in October, while further legislation will be introduced in 2025.

It follows a two-year trial of e-scooters in regional Victoria for the past two years including in Ballarat, which began its trial in late 2021. It was extended three times.

City of Ballarat Director Development and Growth, Natalie Robertson, said Ballarat’s trial has been largely positive, and the city will consider the government’s announcement.

“There have been more than 300,000 trips undertaken in the trial period in Ballarat, totalling more than 700,000 kilometres,” she said.

“Research has shown more than 63 per cent of rides taken on the Ballarat e-scooters replaced what would have otherwise been a car trip.”