Published on Friday, 11 August 2023 at 12:24:49 PM
In an industry first for Western Australia, Geraldton has become the first place to trial seated e-scooters - a more accessible e-mobility option.
As part of Beam’s extremely popular fleet of 300 e-scooters, Geraldton has been selected to trial 50 of the seated e-scooters.
Featuring the same technology and safety features as the existing standing e-scooters, the seated option offers a more practical and accessible choice for users, especially those travelling longer distances, or who find standing e-scooters challenging.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said it was amazing to see the success of Beam grow with the addition of more options.
“We’ve seen great results since the introduction of Beam e-scooters in September last year and this year more than 14,000 trips have been averaged each month,” he said.
“Accessibility and inclusion remains a priority for the City so we are over the moon to be the first in WA to trial the seated e-scooters.
“We thank Beam for their ongoing support and innovation in helping us to provide the community with more commuting options.”
The seated e-scooters have a comfortable seat and a lower centre of gravity to provide a smoother and more comfortable ride, which offers a more accessible option for those who prefer a more comfortable seated position.
They also increase safety by providing stability for people who may struggle to maintain balance on a standing e-scooter as well as a more comfortable option for longer journeys.
“Geraldton has been a leader in Western Australia’s adoption of micromobility, and we’re excited to be bringing another WA-first to the city,” said Beam’s WA Operations Manager Stuart O’Callaghan.
“As Australia’s largest shared micromobility operator, we’re committed to constantly innovating and bringing the latest technology and hardware to our operations across the country.
“Geraldton has experienced great success with shared micromobility, which has become a preferred means of transportation and seen over 350,000 kilometres ridden on Beams across the city.
“However, they have not been accessible to all members of the local community, which is a gap we are looking to address with the launch of seated e-scooters.
“The seated e-scooters could also open up riding across longer distances, with a more comfortable seated position, encouraging increased modal shift away from cars.
“Our goal is to bring safe, sustainable and equitable transportation to as many residents as possible across Geraldton, and we look forward to seeing the local community embrace Geraldton’s newest mode of transportation,” Stuart added.
The allocation of 50 seated e-scooters has been introduced in addition to the already 300 standing e-scooters.
The new seated e-scooters are now available across the operating area with the same pricing as Beam’s existing fleet.
For more information about Beam head to their website.
Picture Caption: Geraldton has become the first in WA to trial Beam’s seated e-scooters.
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