City of Perth will trial a two-year eScooter share scheme at 80 sites around the city.

The trial, launching on March 18, will allow visitors, residents and workers to opt for a more environmentally friendly transport alternative to get around the streets, Mayor Basil Zempilas said in a statement.

The scooters will be able to travel up to 25km/h on roads and 10km on footpaths. They’ll be banned on roads with a speed limits over 50km.

Council says the scooters will be fitted with geofencing technology to keep them within the City of Perth LGA and out of pedestrian malls and entertainment precincts.

Riders will be required to return the scooters to a designated parking spot or the trip won’t be recognised as having ended, with information about designated parking spots available via the providers’ app.

The 500 scooters will be provided by two competing companies, Bird and Neuron Mobility.

“Having two competing companies as part of the scheme will ensure e-scooter users within the City are getting the best value for money,” Cr Zempilas said.

City of Stirling trial

City of Perth is the second metropolitan council to trial eScooters.

Neuron recently ran a trial in the City of Stirling, the city’s biggest LGA, which ended in February.

Mayor Mark Irwin has hailed the trial a success, with 130,000 trips clocked as of October 2022, indicating what he described as strong community interest in more innovative and sustainable modes of transport.

A survey by Neuron Mobility found that 49 per cent of respondents said their ride resulted in a purchase at a local business, 53 per cent reported their eScooter trips replaced a car journey and 96 per cent believed eScooters had made a positive impact on the City.

City of Stirling is now moving to a public tender process following the 250-scooter trial, and is understood to be debating how many eScooter companies should be able to operate.

The City of Perth trial will be the first major Australian city launch for Bird.

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