Vandals hack Brisbane Lime scooters to scream offensive messages

Eight Lime scooters have had to be pulled off the streets of Brisbane after vandals hacked the e-scooters' audio system, the Brisbane Times reports.

Footage showing the popular electric scooter screaming multiple different messages, including "I don't like to be ridden", was shared to Twitter this week. 

Lime Queensland has confirmed the company was actively checking to see if any other scooters had been vandalised.

Lime Queensland public affairs manager Nelson Savanh called the incident "disappointing".

"It's not smart, it's not funny and is akin to changing a ringtone.

"It's disappointing that someone has taken this opportunity to poke fun at members of the community in a hurtful way," Savanh said.

This is not the first time Lime has scooted into trouble in Brisbane, with a glitch appearing last year that saw riders' front wheels suddenly lock up, sending passengers flying over the handlebars and causing serious injuries.

The same glitch appeared in Auckland in February, which led to Auckland Council implementing a temporary ban.

Lime had to agree to a number of conditions before the scooters were deemed safe to ride, including reporting incidents in Auckland within 24 hours.

"We want to understand and learn from those [incidents] and make sure the appropriate actions are put into effect here," Auckland Council chief operating officer Dean Kimpton said in early March.

Lime scooters are still on trial in Brisbane, and the company is waiting to hear whether the scooters will be permanent.

Newshub.