MELBOURNE - Melbourne has become the latest city to ban rental e-scooters, abruptly moving to end a trial contract with two firms after a community revolt.

       After a six-to-four council vote late on Aug 13, the city authorities said they would give operators Lime and Neuron 30 days to rid the city centre of the two-wheeled contraptions.

       Melbourne Mayor Nicholas Reece – a former executive at the men’s health charity Movember – backed the move and said it had popular support.

       He alleged that scooters had been scattered around the city “like confetti”, posing a risk to the community.

       For fans, e-scooters are a transport revolution – allowing commuters to zip around crowded cities with ease and at minimal cost.

       For detractors, they are injury-inducing street litter and a hipsters’ plague on peaceful pedestrians.

       In just two decades, e-scooters have grown into a worldwide market worth tens of billions of dollars a year.

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       But Melbourne follows cities from Barcelona to Montreal in banning or limiting where e-scooters can go.

       Researchers at the University of New South Wales report the growth of e-scooters has brought a rise in related injuries and hospital admissions, mostly from men aged in their late 20s to early 30s.

       The Royal Melbourne Hospital recorded 256 e-scooter-related injuries in 2022.

       Rental company Neuron Mobility said Melbourne’s “drastic” decision was made without “proper discussion”.

       “We still believe that Melbourne is an excellent city for e-scooters,” said Neuron general manager Jayden Bryant.

       “If given the opportunity, we could quickly implement a variety of measures to address many, if not all, of the councillors’ concerns.” AFP