Melbourne: The Sporting Capital’s days of share-hire e-scooters might soon be over, as the city's Lord Mayor, Nicholas Reece, plans to propose cancelling contracts with providers Lime and Neuron following a surge in complaints. The move, set for a council vote, comes after growing concerns over safety and the disorderly use of 1,500 scooters in the city.

Despite initially supporting the e-scooters, Reece expressed frustration over rule-breaking and scooters cluttering footpaths, creating hazards for pedestrians. The potential ban would only apply to rented scooters, leaving privately-owned ones unaffected.

The state government had previously deemed a long-running e-scooter trial successful, allowing the devices to operate permanently from October, with individual councils retaining control over contracts. While Melbourne may scrap the scooters, neighbouring councils like Port Phillip and Yarra are expected to keep them.

E-scooter-related incidents have resulted in hundreds of hospital admissions in Melbourne over the past six years. Additionally, complaints about the scooters have spiked by over 200% across the country, primarily due to illegal parking, improper gear use, and safety concerns.

Neuron Mobility expressed surprise at the potential ban, citing ongoing discussions with the city to improve the e-scooter program, which included investments in AI technology for better regulation. The company emphasized that many rely on e-scooters daily, especially those without cars.