NSW has introduced Australia’s first statewide laws, starting today, to regulate shared e-bike operators, and end the decade-long share bike free-for-all that cluttered footpaths and blocked pedestrians.
The likes of Uber-backed Lime now need approval from Transport for NSW, plus authorisation from local councils or land managers, before deploying e-bikes. And now they’re also responsible for where they end up.
The new rules require operators to keep bikes away from pedestrian crossings, bus and light rail stops, taxi zones, fire exits and other places where a 25kg lump of metal is an obstacle rather than transport.
Failing to remove badly parked bikes could attract penalties of up to $55,000, plus another $5,500 for every day the problem continues.
Councils will also score powers to create dedicated parking bays, no-go and go-slow zones, so fleet sizes can be capped according to demand and operator performance.
But users will pay to sort it out, with the government introducing a per-trip levy to fund a $6.6 million grant program offering councils up to $200,000 for e-bike parking infrastructure.
NSW transport minister John Graham sought to capture the zeitgeist of public frustration.
“If you’re sick of e-bikes cluttering up your streets, these are the laws you’ve been waiting for,” he said.
“This is a fast-changing space, and we don’t want to miss out on the great transport benefits these bikes provide, but we have to strike the balance on their impact on the rest of the community and these laws do that in a comprehensive way.”
The reforms are being phased in over coming months and sit alongside tougher rules for privately owned e-bikes, including a 250-watt power limit, minimum rider age, tighter battery standards and powers for police to seize illegal machines and destroy them.
Josh Murray, secretary for Transport for NSW, said the reforms balance the benefits of the shared e-bike system with community feedback.
“The program is designed to address safety needs and respond to community concerns about improperly parked devices while supporting the continued growth of shared e‑bikes as one of our fastest growing transport modes,” he said.
“We want to continue expanding sustainable and affordable transport options but improve equity of access and provide more suitable infrastructure so that communities experience shared e‑bike use as safe, orderly and easy to find the benefits.”
