Support for the e-scooter scheme's expansion to outer suburbs will be ramped up this week when Labor backbencher Michael Pettersson calls on the ACT government to run the program in Mitchell and Gungahlin.
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Mr Pettersson will put forward a motion in the Legislative Assembly for the expansion and said the e-scooters had been a hit with Canberrans in the trial zones.
A recent survey showed that two-thirds of respondents supported the scheme's expansion, including about 80 per cent among people living in Gungahlin.
"We already know that the scheme has proved to be hugely popular. Having the e-scooters operating in our town centre and business districts will encourage more localised active travel and provide a boost to our local economies," Mr Pettersson said.
He will also be calling for additional parking spaces for the e-scooters around light rail stops to improve public transport connections.
"I'll be keenly waiting for the outcome of the government's review into the scheme and advocating for an expansion to Gungahlin as a high priority," he said.
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Sukhjeet Singh, president of the Mitchell Traders Aassociation, said that expanding the scheme to areas such as Mitchell would encourage more people to visit and make it easier for workers to move about.
"Mitchell is one of Canberra's best industrial employment hubs and we know that the use of e-scooters will help workers get around different sites and workshops quickly and cheaply," Mr Singh said.
"Our area is also rapidly changing with new types of businesses being established and we would welcome any measure to increase accessibility in and around Mitchell.
"We are also looking forward to seeing the completion of the Sanford Street light rail stop, which will further encourage people to visit the area and make it easier for business owners and employees to get to work."
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