Neuron trial powering ahead from this Thursday!

Neuron Mobility’s hire-and-ride e-scooters will be available to rent for short trips in Yeppoon under a 12-month trial from this Thursday, 10th November 2022. 

The fleet of purpose-built e-scooters will cover a 10 square kilometre ride zone incorporating Yeppoon CBD, Cooee Bay, Taranganba, Lammermoor and Rosslyn.

Currently operating in four other Queensland cities, including Rockhampton, the electric-powered scooters are “geofenced”, allowing Neuron and Council to better control where, and how fast, e-scooters can be ridden, with dedicated parking areas and speed-restricted “go-slow” zones in areas with higher foot traffic.

Mayor Andy Ireland, Portfolio holder of Economic Development, said Neuron Mobility choosing to invest in Yeppoon speaks volumes for the growth of our area.

“Elsewhere in Australia they are helping to boost the local economy,” Mayor Ireland said.

“Neuron has recently reported that their e-scooters contribute $70,000 per e-scooter to local economies each year with riders spending an average of $65 per trip at local businesses.”

Regional Manager at Neuron Mobility, Tim Morris, said Neuron are delighted to be launching this week in Yeppoon and they look forward to partnering with the Council to deliver a safe and convenient service to help people move around the city.

“E-scooters are really well suited to the area and they will be a great way for locals as well as tourists to travel in a safe, convenient and environmentally-friendly way,” Mr Morris said.

“Safety is our top priority, it dictates our e-scooter design and also the way we operate them. Our e-scooters are packed with a range of cutting-edge safety features and we know from experience in other cities that riders really appreciate this.”

Councillor Pat Eastwood, Portfolio holder of Healthy and Inclusive Community, said e-scooters make it easier for residents and tourists to move between Yeppoon’s many attractions and business precincts.

“The timing of the launch is perfect as we’re about to head into one of Yeppoon’s busiest times of the year. The e-scooters will be a fun way for you to get to all the holiday season events and activities on offer without the worry of finding a car park,” Cr Eastwood said.

“The e-scooters have safety features galore but it’s also really important for riders to follow the Queensland road rules for e-scooters to ensure the safety of themselves and those around them.

“Neuron’s 24-hour operations team will be on hand to ensure the e-scooters are parked responsibly and relocated to high-use areas when required and will be ensuring the E-scooters are clean, safe and charged for use.”

Neuron will be hosting a ‘ScootSafe’ event at 10am on Saturday 12th November at the Yeppoon foreshore amphitheatre, where Safety Ambassadors will assist new riders with signing up to Neuron’s user-friendly app, and educate riders and the general public on the safety rules for e-scooters.

Riders will be able to book and use the e-scooters through Neuron’s user-friendly app, which can be downloaded from Apple or Google app stores and set up in a matter of minutes.

Standard single trips will cost $1 to unlock the e-scooter and 45 cents per minute thereafter. More frequent users have the option to purchase Neuron Passes, allowing users to ride as many times as they want for up to 90 minutes per day for as little as $3.30 a day, with no additional unlocking fee.

Don’t forget these Important Queensland Riding Rules and Safety Tips when riding:

• Neuron riders must be 16 years old and above
• Only one rider allowed per e-scooter, no tandem riding with children
• Wearing a helmet is mandatory, there is one on every e-scooter
• Do not ride under the influence of alcohol or any other substance
• E-scooters can be ridden on footpaths and shared paths at a speed of 12km/h, unless signed otherwise
• E-scooters can also be ridden in bike lanes on roads with a speed limit of 50km/h or less, all on-road bike lanes that are physically separated and low-speed roads with a speed limit less than 50km/h and no dividing line
• E-scooters cannot be ridden in bike lanes on roads over 50km/h
• Maintain a safe distance between riders and pedestrians
• Give way to pedestrians and mobility devices (such as wheelchairs) at all times; and
• Park responsibly, don't obstruct access areas, don’t park too close to a junction

For more information about Neuron Mobility visit: www.rideneuron.com

For any questions or feedback on Neuron e-Scooters email: yeppoonsupport@neuron.sg or phone (07) 4277 8737.