e-scooter trial Archives - Springfield Lakes

Springfield Lakes E-Scooter Pilot Ends with Lessons for Queensland

Photo Credit: IpswichCityCouncil/Facebook

The quiet streets of Springfield Central, Springfield Lakes, and Spring Mountain saw a short-lived transport experiment come to an early end, despite solid community support and growing rider numbers.

A popular ride cut short

The trial ran in those suburbs from July 2023 until October 2024 under a partnership between Ipswich City Council and Beam Mobility. Council data showed between 60 and 89 trips a day, with riders typically travelling 2.4 kilometres in about 11 minutes.

An earlier Shape Your Ipswich project page shows the company initially deployed up to 125 scooters and trained riders through its Beam Safe Academy. When the pilot was extended in late 2023, the data looked promising. But by late 2024, Beam had informed Council that it would not continue operations beyond the Springfield Lakes zone.

The most common routes linked the Orion Springfield Central shopping centre, the University of Southern Queensland campus, and the Springfield train stations, revealing demand for short, flexible travel within the growing suburbs.

The official trial summary confirmed that Beam’s withdrawal was voluntary, not due to local performance issues.

Safety before speed

Although only one minor incident was recorded throughout the trial, officials were wary about e-scooter use on busy footpaths and near pedestrian areas. Beam Mobility had introduced strict safety controls, such as speed caps in high-traffic zones, automatic braking or shutdown when riders left approved areas, and restricted parking in unsafe spots.

These measures were well received, and 63 per cent of respondents in a Council survey said e-scooters felt safe to use. Still, it was concluded that community safety had to outweigh convenience.

What’s Next?

Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee chairman, Andrew Antoniolli, said many remained uneasy about the pace of e-mobility growth. While the Springfield Lakes trial had proven that residents were willing to use e-scooters responsibly, he noted that the laws governing personal mobility devices had not kept up with public use.

Mr Antoniolli said they were waiting for guidance from a national inquiry into e-mobility safety and regulation, which has received more than 1,200 public submissions. Council officials said they remain open to future trials once clear safety and legal frameworks are in place.

Published 28-Oct-2025

E-scooter Trial Extended in Springfield Central

The Beam e-scooter trial scheme, currently underway in Springfield Central and the surrounding areas, is set to continue its operations for another six months.

The extension of the pilot program, aimed at gathering additional data to assess the long-term feasibility of micro-mobility services, will run until July 2024. This trial period is poised to offer valuable insights into whether e-scooters could become a permanent and advantageous mode of transportation for residents and visitors alike.

Beam has been entrusted to operate up to 125 e-scooters within Springfield Central, Springfield Lakes, and Spring Mountain throughout the trial’s duration.

e-scooter trial springfield — Photo Credit: Shape Your Ipswich

Growth, Infrastructure, and Waste Committee Chair, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding has reported that e-scooters have been met with enthusiasm by Springfield Central residents during the initial six-month trial period, which commenced on 1 July 2023.

“More than 3,000 users have embraced e-scooters during the trial’s course, showcasing the rapid adoption of this eco-friendly mode of transport,” Mayor Harding stated.

“Collectively, scooter users have covered a distance of 30,000 kilometres so far this year, highlighting the potential impact of micro-mobility in facilitating suburban transportation, especially for ‘last mile’ connectivity to and from public transport hubs, workplaces, and educational institutions.”

Ipswich residents have collectively spent over 3,000 hours on e-scooters since its launch. Andrew Dodd, Beam’s Regional Operations Manager, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Ipswich trial and emphasised the continued collection of data over the upcoming months.

“The data gathered thus far underscores the enormous potential of shared micro-mobility in connecting Ipswich residents and visitors while reducing the need for car trips,” Mr Dodd said.

“We have maintained regular communication with the council to address community concerns and implement changes that benefit both users and residents. We are delighted to see the trial extended for an additional six months and look forward to further collaboration with Ipswich City Council and the Springfield Central community in advancing micro-mobility.”

Residents can share their feedback on the extended trial via Shape Your Ipswich.

Published 2-Jan-2024

Springfield Gears Up for Six-Month E-Scooter Trial

Did you know that a six-month e-scooter trial will be conducted in Springfield Central, Spring Mountain, and Springfield Lakes through leading e-scooter hire company Beam, in collaboration with Ipswich City Council?

Starting 8 July 2023, residents and locals in those areas will have access to Beam’s latest fleet of top-of-the-range, safety-focused e-scooters, riding them around as a convenient and safe transportation alternative, reducing reliance on private cars and public transport and providing data that would be useful in deciding on a longer term use case for them.

Read: Bottle Alley Reopens To Pedestrians With Striking Tribute To Ipswich History

To ensure safe usage, e-scooters and personal mobility devices will be permitted on footpaths, shared paths, separated paths, bike paths, and local streets with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less and no dividing line.

E-Scooter Trial — Photo credit: Beam AU/Facebook

The introduction of e-scooters aligns with Ipswich City Council’s iGO Intelligent Transport Systems Strategy, which was adopted in 2019. This strategy outlines a roadmap for integrating new technologies, such as e-scooters, into the city’s transport networks.

Speed limits for e-scooters are set at 12km/h on footpaths, shared paths, and crossings, and 25km/h on permitted local roads, bike paths, and bike lanes, unless otherwise indicated by signage.

Beam was selected for the trial due to its strong safety record and commitment to prioritising pedestrian safety. The company employs geo-locking technology to restrict e-scooters from entering high pedestrian zones and enforces maximum speed limits.

Deputy Chairperson of the Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee and Division 2 Councillor Paul Tully emphasised the importance of the e-scooter trial, stating that it will allow residents to try out shared e-scooters and provide their thoughts and input on how council might integrate e-scooters into the city’s transport network for the long term.

The six-month trial period, running until December 2023, will provide ample time for residents to experience the benefits of shared e-scooters and offer valuable feedback to the council.

Read: First Traffic Switch For Springfield Greenbank Arterial Widening Project

Beam, in preparation for the launch, will also host the Beam Safe Academy event, aimed at educating the community about e-scooter safety and gathering their input. This event will take place at the Robelle Domain car park next to the Orion Lagoon on Saturday, 8 July 2023 starting at 9 a.m, providing curious residents with the opportunity to test ride the scooters.

Published 6-July-2023