Qld floats fines for poor e-scooter parks

Nick Gibbs | December 14, 2022

People who leave e-scooters and e-bikes blocking Queensland footpaths could be fined as authorities push for more considerate parking of the popular shot-term rentals.

An e-scooter left in the middle of a footpath can mean people who depend on them have no option but to use the road, according to wheelchair user Uncle Wilfred Prince.

“I find it very inconvenient when I come across e-scooters that block footpaths … it makes it very impossible to negotiate around them,” he said on Wednesday.

“I find that I have to frequently go on the main roads, which puts myself and my support worker in danger.”

More allocated parking areas marked in yellow as well as a phone line to report blocked footpaths are part of a new plan announced by the state government.

Franchises that operate the rental schemes will also employ more people to move poorly parked e-scooters.

There is potential for people to be fined for poor parking but authorities will mainly focus on education, Transport Minister Mark Bailey said.

“We don’t want to have to fine people, we want to educate them and give them options,” he said.

“As these parking plans roll out across local government areas, I think people will increasingly understand the need for this and we’ll be doing more promotion … so people really get the message.”

The plans are designed to inform riders of where they can park safely, Queenslanders with Disability Network’s Michelle Moss said.

“For people who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters, it means the difference of being on a path that’s blocked by an e-scooter or an e-bike and having to go out on the road with cars ,” she said.

“For people who are vision impaired, it means the difference in not being at risk of falling over a device … that is blocking the pathway.”