Wollongong's new E-scooters are changing the way people get around the city, offering a fun, convenient and eco-friendly mode of transportation for the community.

The recently added 12-month trial that brought the bright orange zoomers to town was a test for the city to see if they can be used as a real alternative to public transportation.

“For some in our community, this trial could be a real game changer in terms of how they navigate around the city,”  Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery said in a media release.

“What we’re exploring through this trial is whether they’re of interest for people in our community who would prefer to hire one of them than hop in their car, ride a bike or take public transport.’’

I had the opportunity to try E-scooters along the beach, and I was pleasantly surprised. In just five minutes, I travelled from the harbourfront to North Wollongong beach at speeds of up to 20 kilometres per hour. They're a fun and speedy alternative to cars.

In a different test, I assessed the scooter's speed compared to public transport. I rented a scooter near the university on Northfields Avenue in Keiraville. Within 10 minutes, I reached the Club Lime in town, my gym destination.

For the return journey, I opted for the bus. Since it was a Sunday, the usual 10-minute wait time doubled to 20 minutes. Including both waiting and the ride, the journey took approximately 18 minutes, thanks to the timing my bus arrived, or it could have been much longer.

Now this was brought to Wollongong for the community, but what do they think of it? Well, here’s what five community members thought.

Ananya Kapur, Wollongong

“E-scooters offer a fantastic way to navigate the city effortlessly. Riding together enhances the experience, and they're not only more affordable than Ubers but also conveniently accessible.”

Benjamin Mahlknecht, Fairy Meadow

“I think the e-scooters are a super cool and unique form of public transport. They allow for a more independent and fun way to travel around the city.”

Oliver Finnegan, Keiraville

“For me I love the E-scooters, it’s something I was accustomed to having in Canberra for a few years. In my opinion, I find they save time and money depending on how you use them.”

Yash Gokhale, Keiraville

“It's a great way to get around Wollongong at times when there is no public transport and also allows the users to truly soak in the beauty of Wollongong. However, a majority of the drivers of these e-scooters do end up driving recklessly, some end up on the road instead of the footpath and those who are on the footpath aren't mindful of their surroundings or the people around them.”

Kiara Smith, Wollongong

“They’re a great idea in theory but pose a few problems practically. As they are limited to specific locations, it's not practical to ride them to a destination such as to and from work. And leaving them in these randomised locations also poses issues regarding mobility on sidewalks.”

For more information on the E-scooters, including how to ride them better, check out the neuron site.

For council’s thoughts on the E-scooters, read the press release.