Ipswich launches its first shared micromobility programme

The Australian city of Ipswich is rolling out a six-month shared e-scooter trial this month with micromobility company Beam.

Up to 150 purple Saturn e-scooters will be deployed, marking the city’s first shared micromobility programme. The deployment will also create local jobs to manage the operations in the local community.

App-based micromobility

The app-based service will feature affordable pay-as-you-go rates ($1 to unlock and from $0.55 per minute), virtual docking to protect city amenity, and an in-app and in person safety school for rider and community education.

The e-scooters feature tip-resistant dual kickstands, front suspension, triple brakes, phone holders, a bluetooth-locked helmet, and swappable batteries. As in other Beam deployments, high-precision geofencing will be in place, ensuring riders remain inside the approved e-scooter operational zones, and swift action as the rider moves between zones with differing restrictions such as slow zones, where speed is automatically slowed, and no parking zones.

“We know e-scooters are new to the community, and we are committed to working closely with the local community to ensure riders know their responsibilities when on an e-scooter”

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the council to deliver Ipswich’s first shared micromobility operations, and to bring our industry leading e-scooters to the region,” said Beam’s Queensland operations manager, Andrew Dodd.

“Queenslanders have already seen shared micromobility take off in other cities and towns across the state, with the data from our other operations such as Brisbane, Logan, Townsville, Port Douglas, Magnetic Island, Mackay, Hervey Bay and Cairns showing a shift from cars to e-scooters for shorter trips under 5km.