City of Stirling council rejects push to ban eRideables from popular reserves
A proposal to ban eRideables in two of the City of Stirling’s busiest parks has been turned down, with the council approving safety improvements to shared paths instead.
The decision, taken at last week’s council meeting, means e-scooters and other permitted eRideables can continue to be ridden in the Yokine Regional Open Space and Jackadder Lake Conservation Area.
City Councilors Suzanne Migdale and Elizabeth Re successfully pushed for a review of eRideable use in parks in May after citing safety concerns, prompting the city to investigate potential exclusion zones.
According to city officials, the proposed ban may have had unintended consequences, including shifting drivers to less safe road environments, and although there were some concerns these were not reflected in customer feedback or recorded issues.
Therefore, they did not support the changes.
“The use of eRideables is subject to operating conditions currently defined under State legislation, and attempts to use local laws to further regulate the use of eRideables would present practical difficulties with implementation and the risk of unintended consequences,” city officials said in a report to council.
“People who safely and respectfully use eRideables for recreation or transportation in these public areas will be negatively impacted.
“There is also no clear logic as to why these locations within the city’s network of 502 public open spaces would require the application of exclusion zones.”
But the city has proposed targeted measures to encourage the safe use of eRideables at the two parks, including improved trail layouts, dismount zones, signage and community education initiatives.
It is estimated that just under $9000 will be spent to renew and improve treatments and signage at the Yokine Regional Open Space, including 20 speed signs, 24 footpath symbols, four noise strips and other road safety measures.
More than $7,600 is expected to be spent at Jackadder Lake Reserve, with the work including six bollards, four trail templates and four speed signs.
“Targeted regeneration and improvement of infrastructure in these locations, as well as community education initiatives, are likely to provide a practical and proportionate response, strengthening compliance with current requirements while maintaining access to these important community spaces,” Stirling Council officials said.
“This serves as a practical and cost-effective opportunity to increase compliance with current speed and behavior requirements.”
The council ultimately supported city officials’ recommendations by a 12-1 vote, with Cr Re being the only vote opposing it.
