Launceston is gearing up to welcome a new fleet of e-scooters

It comes after the Tasmanian government has identified amendments to transport regulations to allow electric scooters to be operated in Tasmania.

The proposed changes would allow both commercial 'hire and ride' operators and private e-scooter users to ride at certain speeds on most local roads, footpaths and bicycle paths.

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In light of the proposed changes, Launceston and Hobart are undertaking a joint expressions of interest process to find a suitable operator for a trial of 'hire and ride' e-scooters.

Project officer Jarred Ranson said that the Launceston city council had been watching interstate e-scooter roll outs closely.

"Some of the early trials interstate have had issues in the past," he said.

"So, we have made sure we've timed our our entry into the market at the right point where we think the scooters meet the standards that are acceptable for our transport network."

The trial scooters would operate on an app-based, user-pays basis within defined zones and with rider safety measures in place.

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Mayor Albert van Zetten said that these safety measures would ensure that the scooters will meet community expectations in regards to safety for both riders and the general public.

Both councils are currently reviewing the expressions of interested from e-scooter operators and Cr van Zetten said he was pleased with the quality of the applicants.

"We have seen some very high quality expressions of interest through this process, and many vendors have taken creative, data driven approaches to some of these challenges," he said.

"Micromobility devices like e-scooters are another transport option for people who don't have access to a car, or who may only need to travel a short distance to reach their destination, and we expect the popularity of these devices to boom in coming years.

"They're a lightweight and convenient transport option in many cities across the world, and they will present some exciting challenges and opportunities for Launceston."

The e-scooters are expected to roll out by the end of 2021.

For more information on the e-scooter trial, visit the City of Launceston website at launceston.tas.gov.au.

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