Shire of Broome approves Beam E-scooter 12-month trial as company flags ‘safety workshops’

WA’s largest shared micro-mobility company, Beam, will bring its brand of E-scooters to Broome following last week’s Council approval of a trading permit for a 12-month trial.

Some 300 purple E-scooters would form part of the trial, with approval contingent on the submission of an operational plan and a codesign workshop taking place prior to the issue of the permit.

As part of the workshop, exclusion zones, speed limits, pick and drop locations and landing pads would be established.

The scooter’s themselves feature GPS technology, which will track their location and limit their speed, including in designated slow zones and exclusion zones.

It will also prevent the e-scooters from straying from the designated 28 square kilometre operating area by notifying riders and directing them back, with the scooter powering down and slowly stopping if they don’t comply.

Rapid Response Rangers responsible for charging and managing unused scooters will be employed, with Beam committing to having staff available around the clock on every day of the year.

According to Beam, this will create between 15 to 20 local jobs in Broome.

Shire of Broome President Desiree Male said e-scooters are already a common site around Broome because they provide a quick, convenient, and economical way to travel short distances.

“I expect they will be popular with locals, but their real value will be in making Broome more accessible to visitors who want to experience more of what our town has to offer.”

Cr Male said Beam’s intention to engage with the Shire and community members to address any issues and concerns prior to launch will help reduce teething problems.

“Once the zones are in place the GPS technology will help ensure that the convenience the e-scooters provide won’t be an inconvenience to others.”

The move comes as E-scooters have made headlines around the State for a myriad of reasons.

On March 24, a 25-year-old man on a Beam E-scooter and a Suzuki Baleno collided in Geraldton.

Police said the rider, who was not wearing a helmet and appeared drunk, received head injuries when he fell onto the road and was rushed to hospital.

A spokesperson for Beam said they were investigating the incident as well as working closely with police to assist in their investigation.

They said “anyone caught doing the wrong thing faces a permanent ban”, including intoxicated riders.

Speaking on the Broome trial, Beam WA operations manager Stuart O’Callaghan said the company was committed to forming partnerships with the local community and organisations and would engage with the community ahead of the launch.

“We know that bringing a new mode of transport to the streets brings change for everyone - pedestrians, drivers, and the broader community, and look forward to engaging with the local community and stakeholders ahead of launch,” he said.

“We have the experience in community engagement, technology and safety education to make this trial in Broome a successful one, and thank the Shire of Broome for their trust in us to deliver.”

Beam currently operates in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand and Turkey.