JackJumpers encourage Hobart to scoot smart
Published on 13 May 2022
E-SCOOTER safety is one message from the Tasmanian Jackjumpers as the team marches into the off-season following a successful debut in the NBL.
A new safety campaign featuring Jack the Jumper and some of the players focuses on a number of safety concerns that have been raised throughout the trial since it commenced in December 2021.
The campaign draws attention to e-scooter fouls, including incorrect parking, not wearing a helmet, looking out for pedestrians, and riding after drinking alcohol.
“Users of e-scooters do need to recognise that there are rules in place to ensure both their own safety, and the safety of those around them,” Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said. “They are a great form of micromobility, provided that everyone shares the space responsibly.”
“This campaign shines a light on the key messages to riding safely on e-scooters. We are also working really hard to introduce new technology such as pavement-detection and drink-riding deterrences to further support the efforts to educate the public,” Beam’s Head of Australian Operations, Ashan Sanjeeva said.
“Neuron e-scooters are packed with cutting-edge features including a helmet lock, 000 emergency button, topple detection, and a ‘Follow my Ride’ feature designed to make them as safe as possible for riders and pedestrians,” Regional Manager Neuron Mobility Lachlan McLean said. “While the vast majority of riders are behaving responsibly, we want to take this opportunity to reinforce the rules – it is the responsibility of every rider to do the right thing.”
After a successful inaugural season, making the NBL Grand Final, the Tasmanian JackJumpers have become recognised faces throughout the local community.
“The Tasmanian JackJumpers support the messages of community safety,” CEO Simon Brookhouse said. “Our players are always happy to be involved in community messages that promote safey, in the hope that members of the community will listen to these messages and scoot safely around Hobart.”
The e-scooter safety campaign will roll out across a variety of social media channels in the coming weeks. All videos can also be viewed at the newly developed “Scoot Smart” website promoting e-scooter safety and responsibility (scootsmart.com.au).
The City of Hobart e-scooter trial will run for 12 months, having commenced in December 2021. A public consultation program will be launched in the coming months.
“We’ve been taking feedback throughout the trial already,” Lord Mayor Reynolds added. “Around 70% of that has been positive, so we know that the majority of people really like having this option for travelling around the city.”
So far there have been over 340,000 rides in the Hobart trial, with over 400,000 km travelled.
Changes are made weekly to the trial in response to community concerns as the trial continues, and there have now been over a quarter of a million rides in Hobart.
More information on the City of Hobart’s e-scooter trial, including an interactive map showing no-ride and preferred parking zones, is available at hobartcity.com.au/escooters.