Beam e-scooters for Napier

Beam’s e-scooters will roll out in Napier from late November.

E-scooters will be available for hire via the Beam app, available for download on Apple and Google Play stores, while local businesses can apply to be part of Beam’s free Booster programme.

The micromobility company is partnering with the Napier City Council, starting with a small initial launch and eventually providing up to 200 e-scooters across the city with a two-year trial.

The app-based service will feature affordable pay-as-you-go rates and subscription offers, ‘virtual docking’ (fixed parking) to protect the city’s historic amenity, and an in-app and in person safety school for rider education, Beam says.

The company has operations across Auckland, Wellington, Palmerston North, Whanganui, and Whangarei.

Beam’s Napier offering will include its Saturn e-scooter fleet (featuring tip-resistant kickstands, dual brakes, a bluetooth-locked helmet, and swappable batteries’ Beam Booster for local business support (using a blend of GPS-technology, in-app notifications and partner incentives to help stimulate economic activity at the local community level, with free participation); the Beam Safety Academy (free in-person training courses, in-app rider education and 24/7 Safety Ambassadors patrolling the streets); virtual docking (fixed parking docks will be created virtually, using technology and GPS to direct riders to appropriate parking spots through a combination of guidance, incentives and disincentives); and “Climate Neutral Operations”.

“We’re thrilled to be piloting Napier’s first shared micromobility operations, and to be the first to bring our industry leading e-scooters to the region,” says Beam Australia New Zealand sustainability head Frederick Conquer.

“As micromobility becomes more commonplace in New Zealand, we believe its usage will only continue to increase exponentially, with more citizens engaging on the streets and leaving their cars behind.

“As we look forward to expanding our footprint, we are also committed to developing collaborative partnerships with local community members and organisations and engage in discussions around the safe operation of e-scooters to ensure the safety of both riders, pedestrians and other road users.”

Napier City Council acting chief executive Richard Munneke says the council is excited about the arrival of e-scooters to Napier providing a new and fun way to get around its beautiful city.

“They have been a successful addition to other cities around the country so we are confident they will be a valuable addition to our city too,” he says.

“Of course, safety comes first and Napier City Council has been working closely with Beam to ensure that there are clear guidelines in place for scooter-user safety.

“We are continuously focussed on mitigating the impacts of climate change, making e-scooters available is a great initiative to encourage people to opt for more climate friendly modes of transport while also reducing dependency on cars.”

Napier City Business Inc general manager Pip Thompson says it’s a wonderful opportunity for those working centrally to park further away from the city and ‘scooter to work’, freeing up valuable inner city car parking spaces for shoppers.