The City of Melbourne is advocating to the Victorian Government and working with e-scooter operators to improve safety for all road users, with new technology to prevent riders from using footpaths and cluttering city spaces.

A fleet of 25 Lime e-scooters equipped with advanced camera capabilities has been rolled out in Melbourne, as part of the State Government’s shared e-scooter trial.

The scooters use real-time footpath detection and audio alerts to crackdown on illegal footpath and tandem riding.

Trial providers, Lime and Neuron Mobility, are also exploring technology to create designated e-scooter parking areas.

A pilot using in-app communication to direct riders to designated parking zones is underway on Swanston and Elizabeth Streets and in Jolimont – which has already reduced complaints by 55 per cent.

Council is also investigating on-street parking stations and physical line markings on footpaths to create clearly marked zones to hire and return e-scooters.

Other technology in development includes:

• Artificial intelligence systems – preventing riders from ending a trip without parking correctly
• Alcohol detection and deterrence systems – combatting intoxicated riding
• Rider identification verification systems – targeting underage riding
• Dual band GPS and Bluetooth technology – improving the accuracy of locating e-scooters, geofencing and designated parking
• On-board mapping – reducing reliance on GPS positioning

At Tuesday’s Future Melbourne Committee meeting, councillors will consider a range of measures to ensure the delivery of a safe, effective and well-integrated shared e-scooter scheme into the future.

If endorsed, Council will advocate to the State Government to ensure higher standards of parking and rider behaviour can be delivered; and for the legal power to manage an e-scooter scheme via an agreement with operators.

Council has also begun discussions with other inner-Melbourne municipalities in preparation for the possible expansion of the shared e-scooter scheme.

Melburnians have embraced the e-scooter trial, surpassing five million rides since February last year – an average of almost 6,000 trips a day, one of the highest rates in the world.

The trial has also cut the city’s carbon emissions by more than 400 tonnes, and encouraged more people to use public transport – with up to 40 per cent of riders using e-scooters to connect with trains, trams and buses.

The shared e-scooter trial is part of a State Government program to understand how the vehicles can be safely incorporated into the community for the long term.

For more information on how to safely use e-scooters, visit Vic Roads.