Electric bike ‘clutter’ on footpaths is to go and shared ride operators will need government approval under a Bill before NSW Parliament.
The Bill will establish basic regulation of the e-ride industry (bikes and scooters) and allow NSW Transport officers to check they are complying with helmet provision, distribution and collection, council conditions, devices, maintenance, insurance, complaints processes, incident reporting and rider education requirements.
Councils will also be able to choose where e-ride operators can work from and set dedicated parking areas, go-slow and no-go zones.
These operators will have to pay for approvals, monitoring, council rangers, new parking bays, transport infrastructure and a data sharing platform.
Transport and councils will establish on-street and kerbside electric bike parking bays in town centres, train and metro stations to keep them off footpaths.
Operators can be fined or have their approvals revoked; failure to comply with a removal order will see them fined up to $55,000 then $5500 for every day of non-compliance.
Operators who fail to heed requests for information will face a fine of up to $110,000.
ELECTRIC RIDE EYESORE “NO MORE”
Transport Minister John Graham says that “shared bikes strewn across footpaths and roads have been an eye-sore and a danger to pedestrians for too long”.
“These Australian-first shared scheme laws will clean up the clutter and provide clear standards and consistency for operators and councils.”
He says the current voluntary approach to parking and safety has failed.
“We know shared e-bikes reduce congestion, connect our transport system and reduce emissions but the current voluntary approach to parking and safety isn’t working,” he says.
“That’s why we’re stepping in to fix the clutter on footpaths and ensure safety standards are met.”
He says the popularity of these e-rides is growing in NSW: in the last financial year, the number of daily trips grew 200%.
“We are setting some of the toughest requirements in Australia for sharing scheme services to make sure services are safe and meet community expectations.”
NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Marjorie O’Neill says the draft law is about setting regulations to incorporate shared electric rides into the state’s active transport network.
“We want to see these schemes grow and succeed but in a way that works for everyone, whether you’re a rider, a pedestrian, or a local business,” she says.
“For too long, shared bike operators have been able to act without proper oversight resulting in cluttered footpaths, safety risks, and frustration for communities.”
Secretary of Transport Josh Murray says their latest data shows 15% of people in the state rode a shared or rented electric bike with 6% riding at least monthly.
“While this number is likely to grow rapidly, we need to address the impact of poorly parked devices, including access to buildings and footpaths which can present challenges for everyone, particularly for people with prams, the elderly and those with mobility needs,” he says.
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