Beam launches e-mobility safety campaign and e-bikes in Wellington

Micromobility company Beam unveils its purple ‘Apollo’ e-bikes in Wellington from February 22, as the city’s e-bike trial begins.

Beam has also launched a safety campaign for e-scooters and e-bikes.

The Apollo e-bikes join Beam’s e-scooters, which have travelled at least 1.4 million kilometres collectively in Wellington, saving the city more than 240,000kg of CO2 emissions.

About 40% of Beam riders are more likely to consider public transport as an option for long journeys, over cars or ridesharing, if they have the option to rely on e-scooters and e-bikes for first and last mile transport, says Beam.

“Our data on riding patterns around Wellington shows a strong reliance on e-scooters for first mile and last mile travel, with the Wellington Train Station as the city’s top e-scooter pick-up and parking spot,” says Beam’s Wellington operations lead Jackson Jebaselvan.  

“We anticipate trips starting and ending at the station to increase even further with the introduction of e-bikes, with data from our other cities’ operations showing that e-bikes are popular amongst work and study commuters in particular.

“We see riders riding for longer on an e-bike, as compared to an e-scooter, and look forward to providing a viable option for those living and working within Beam’s operational area to leave their cars at home and hop on an e-bike instead.”

Meanwhile, Beam has launched a safety campaign in Wellington to educate riders about Apollo e-bikes.

“This is especially important, as the riding rules differ slightly from what riders would be used to with e-scooters,” says Jebaselvan.

“Riders must stick to the roads and bike paths whilst on an e-bike, and they must wear a helmet.

“We will work closely with the local police to enforce the riding rules.” 

Beam hosts a free real-world training course at Waitangi Stream Promenade on Saturday 25 February 25 from noon to 3pm to teach visitors and locals e-scooter and e-bike safety.

The ‘Beam Safe Academy’ incorporates a briefing guide for new riders, an interactive safety quiz and a free training course for riders to test out their riding skills in a supportive environment.

It forms part of Beam’s major safety education and enforcement programme, aimed at educating riders on local riding rules and safe handling of e-scooters and e-bikes.