More e-scooters to hit Brisbane after council approves new operator

Lime has lost its monopoly on e-scooters in Brisbane with the council announcing a second operator has been given the green light.

A total of 1000 e-scooters will soon populate the city, with Lime reduced from its original capacity of 750 scooters to just 400 and a new operator, Singapore-based Neuron Mobility approved to operate a further 600.

Lime's rollout has been plagued by police crackdowns on rule breakers, brake issues and injuries, as well as the death of a 50-year-old man who suffered a cardiac arrest after falling from a Lime scooter in May.

Brisbane City Council said Neuron Mobility’s new Generation 2 scooters are safer, which is why they’ve been given the approval for additional scooters.

The company will also enforce geo-fencing, meaning if a scooter enters a red zone in the city like Queen Street it will automatically be shut down.

Lime has developed a counter attack with its Generation 3 scooters, which will have a “lower centre of gravity” according to public affairs manager Nelson Savanh.

Both companies have been given a 12-month permit to operate in the city.

Nine companies submitted tenders for the permits.