[23 May 2024] Australia’s largest micromobility company Beam will bring its brand of community-first micromobility to the City of Greater Bendigo from today.

250 e-scooters will be introduced to Bendigo from today and be available for hire between 5am and 11pm, 7 days a week, accessible via downloading the Beam app and scanning the QR code on the e-scooters.

The app-based service will feature affordable pay-as-you-go rates ($1 to unlock and from $0.51 per minute to ride) and ‘virtual docking’ to protect city amenity.

Beam will deploy its Saturn 5 e-scooters, featuring safety-first technology to support both rider safety and that of other road users, including GPS tracking, geofencing and speed limiting technology to ensure safe integration into the city’s transport network.

The e-scooters will also feature tip-resistant dual kickstands, front suspension, triple brakes, wireless charging phone holders, a bluetooth-locked helmet, and swappable batteries.

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 go zones’ where e-scooters will not be allowed.

For the first time in Victoria’s shared e-scooter trials, AI-powered Pedestrian Shield technology will be integrated into a number of the city’s e-scooter fleet to support rider education and enforcement.

With Pedestrian Shield, Beam’s e-scooters will accurately and reliably identify whether the vehicle is traveling on sidewalks, streets or bike lanes, enabling Beam to educate riders on safe riding in and around the city, by providing specific in-trip and post-trip feedback.

With Pedestrian Shield, Beam’s e-scooters will accurately and reliably identify whether the vehicle is traveling on footpaths, roads or bike lanes, enabling Beam to educate riders on safe riding in and around the cities, by providing specific in-trip and post-trip feedback.

Beam’s ‘Beam Safe Academy’, the company’s major safety education and enforcement program, will be in place to educate riders on local riding rules and safe handling of e-scooters. The program includes:

• A pre-trip in-app safety briefing for every rider, featuring instructions on how to park and ride safely.
• An in-app Beam Safety Quiz educating riders on the riding rules, with free credits offered to encourage rider education.
• Beam Safety Ambassadors patrolling high-traffic areas, promoting safe riding and parking
• A three-strikes policy, with riders facing suspension for bad riding and parking offenses. Those caught riding dangerously or breaking the law face permanent bans.
• In-person safety sessions to teach riders how to operate an e-scooter safely. A free e-scooter training session will be held today (23 May) from 3-5pm at Rosalind Park PIazza.

Beam’s Regional Operations Manager, Ned Dale said:

“We’re excited to be bringing our purple e-scooter fleet to the City of Greater Bendigo for the first time, and to be building on the city’s public transport offering.

“We’re committed to investing in the local community, with new technology to improve safety and accessibility of our e-scooters, and new community programs to enable local businesses and community groups to unlock the benefits of shared micromobility.

“Safety is our first priority, and we are committed to enforcing safe riding, in collaboration with the police.

“We invest in rider education, prevention and deterrence, but above all, even the safest e-scooter requires a safer rider, and we ask that people do the right thing - that means wear a helmet, follow the road rules.”

City of Greater Bendigo, Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said:

“I am delighted to welcome Beam to the City of Greater Bendigo for the 12-month trial.

“This is a first for Bendigo and an exciting opportunity to see how the Saturn 5 e-scooters can benefit residents and visitors.

“The Beam team will bring expertise, knowledge, and a strong commitment to safety over the coming year.”