A Logan City Council committee voted to allow another e-mobility operator to trial their vehicles in Logan

Councillors Lane, Bannan and Stemp voted against the motion to extend the current trial period with Beam by six months and enter into a 12-month agreement with rival e-mobility company Helbiz.

The City Planning, Economic Development and Environment Committee were given an update on the current trial with Beam, and heard since December 2021 approximately 40,000 rides had been taken and only four injuries had been reported.

Division 1 Councillor Teresa Lane said her constituents had concerns with the current trial, mostly relating to the devices blocking footpaths while not in use and also riders passing pedestrians at speed.

"I propose we approve the extension of the Beam trial but reject the move to approve a secondary company until we have issues raised by my residents resolved to their satisfaction," Cr Lane said.

Cr Lane did also receive some positive feedback from residents, but ultimately she said the proposal needed to be reconsidered.

"These are our ratepayers' footpaths and their concerns must be utmost in our minds when we make decisions on their behalf," she said.

"Having a new player coming into the market without those standards set would be a mistake in my estimation."

Committee Chair Councillor Jon Raven said Helbiz utilised various technologies to ensure riders maintained low speeds through areas with heavy foot traffic, and allowing the second company to operate would likely drive Beam to offer similar features.

The Queensland Government is also considering legislation to cap maximum speed limits on e-scooters to 12km/h and allow riders to use bicycle paths rather than footpaths.

"I'm keen on competition as it does generate better standards," Cr Raven said.

Division 6 Councillor Tony Hall was in favour of the plan, as it would encourage the adoption of more environmentally-friendly transport options.

"Part of our obligation as a human race is to move away from previous carbon fossil fuels," Cr Hall said.

"One way we can do that is by encouraging electric mobility...I think we need to do everything we can to ensure that happens in our city."

Cr Hall agreed with Cr Raven that competition would lead to better industry self-regulation.

"They'll hold each other to a standard and the public will have an option to choose one over the other," he said.

"That is good because that means they'll be competing for customers' business, meaning they'll be making their services better in order to get the customers."

Other customers who spoke in support of the proposal included Cr Laurie Koranski, who acknowledged safety concerns residents had and said the council could advocate for better regulation, but wanted to see the trial area expanded to include Yarrabilba.

Mayor Darren Power also gave conditional support to the proposal, on the basis that it was just a trial.

Division 9 Councillor Scott Bannan was less supportive of the idea, saying it would lead to "chaos" on local footpaths and wanted to know whether the council had the power to prevent further e-scooter companies operating if the trial resulted in a bad outcome for residents.

"I think it's going to be chaos with them," Cr Bannan said.

"You do education driving a car...but look at how people drive cars.

"If the trial goes through and it causes nothing but heartache...if we do the trial and it goes bad and we don't want them [the e-scooters] can we stop it?"

The Gold Coast City Council and Sydney and Inner West Council have both opted to not allow shared e-scooter companies to operate within their cities, which the council said it could consider as models in the case of a poor response to the trial.