Melbourne’s E-Scooters to Incorporate Artificial Intelligence Cameras
The AI cameras assist in preventing riders from using the footpath.
E-scooters in Victoria will be equipped with artificial intelligence cameras to discourage riders from riding on the footpath.
Neuron Mobility has announced that they will be the first in the world to install AI cameras on all 1,250 e-scooters in Melbourne.
An e-scooter traveling on the footpath can be identified in less than a second using advanced AI computer vision technology.
Riders who venture onto the footpath will receive an alert that reads, “Footpath riding detected, please ride on the road.”
If a rider comes across pedestrians in their path, the system will issue a warning, saying “watch out for pedestrians and slow down.”
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“It will also be used to identify and warn riders of pedestrians in their path, and collect valuable data on road surfaces.”
In the future, the company plans to gather data on uneven road surfaces and potholes to assist councils in urban planning.
Using AI technology may reduce the instances of footpath riding by e-scooters in Melbourne, according to Neuron Mobility Australia and New Zealand general manager Jayden Bryant.
“We are utilizing the data from our six-month trial to enhance our enforcement efforts at crucial times and locations and to target our rider education materials more effectively to improve behavior,” he stated.
“The ability to provide real-time warnings and alerts as soon as a rider chooses to ride on the footpath can be a significant deterrent.”
Scooter riders must be at least 16 years old, wear a helmet, and travel at a maximum speed of 20 kilometers per hour.
E-Scooters Set to Become ‘Permanent’ in Victoria
The Victorian government extended an e-scooter trial in April for six months, with the intention of making them permanent.
The Victorian government noted that e-scooters have been embraced by shift workers as a safe mode of transportation to get home.
Data from the trial indicates that most e-scooter riders are following the rules, but further time is needed to enhance compliance.
Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams stated that the government still has more work to do on safety and compliance to ensure the safety of e-scooters when they become permanent later in the year.
“E-scooters are here to stay—they’ve proven popular among commuters, especially shift workers, providing an additional option to travel home safely,” she said.
The City of Melbourne has been conducting a trial of e-scooters in collaboration with the Victorian government since Feb. 1, 2022, partnering with Neuron and Lime.
Melbourne Study Investigates E-Scooter Hospital Data
Meanwhile, a study by the Royal Melbourne Hospital, dated April 2024, found that there are a significant number of injuries associated with e-scooter use.
A total of 256 e-scooter injuries were reported at the Royal Melbourne Hospital during a one-year study period.
The study examined hospital and registry data from January 2022 to January 2023. Of the injured individuals, 247 were riders and nine were pedestrians.
The majority of these patients were male at 69 percent, while 31 percent were female. The median age of these patients was 29.5 years.
The injuries included head and upper limb impacts, abrasions, and fractures. Alcohol use was a factor in 34 percent of these injuries, and 33 percent of patients were wearing helmets.
The median cost of these injuries was $1,321.66 per patient.
The paper concluded that the findings emphasize the “urgent need for improved safety measures to minimize electric scooter-related injuries and their clinical and economic repercussions.”
“Electric scooter use, as observed through patient admissions at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, is linked to a substantial number of injuries, primarily among young males, and results in significant economic expenses.”
AAP contributed to this report
