Geraldton e-scooter trial on the right track after three months, according to Beam and City

Three months after purple e-scooters popped up across Geraldton, mobility company Beam says the trial is going strong, with more than 165,000km travelled so far.

Beam’s WA operations manager Stuart O’Callaghan said Geraldton locals were embracing the program.

“We’re really pleased with the way the trial is going here. We’re seeing similar movement patterns in other WA cities, with strong commuting traffic and over 50 per cent of trips being for a specific purpose, as opposed to just leisure rides,” he said.

“So we’re seeing people travel to and from work and school, using them to go to the shops, and running errands.”

Mr O’Callaghan said Geraldton was also seeing a large amount riders aged over 35, challenging the stereotype that the e-scooters were a young person’s ride.

Beam also said it was still committed to ensuring riders were responsible, having issued 173 warnings for riding and parking offences such as riding dangerously, inappropriate parking and not wearing a helmet.

As a result, Beam said it had handed out 47 permanent bans.

Most traffic is seen after work on weekdays, Friday evening and weekend afternoons, with most trips being to spots in the CBD such as Dome Cafe, Jaffle Shack, L’Italiano Pizza and Bluff Point Deli, or for commutes from the CBD back home after work.

Beam said 40 per cent of trips on the e-scooters would have been taken by car, meaning 28,970kg of CO2 emissions had been saved.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the program was going well, but did not want to comment on its future at this point.

“Initial feedback and data is promising, however, its success ultimately lies with the community and everyone doing the right thing,” he said.

The council approved a 15-month trial, which includes 300 e-scooters.