The New South Wales government has announced $6.6 million in funding for Sydney local councils to establish marked parking bays for shared ebikes, aiming to eliminate the clutter and safety hazards caused by bikes left on footpaths. The initiative, part of the Sharing Scheme Grant Program, allocates up to $200,000 per council for 16 councils that host shared ebike schemes.
Funding details and operator fees
The program is funded through a 60-cent fee on each shared ebike trip, paid by operators such as Lime. When first announced last year, operators indicated the levy would likely be passed on to users through existing management fees. The government expects councils to use the funding to paint designated parking areas on streets and kerbsides, focusing on locations with the most complaints and conflicts.
Rapid growth of shared ebikes in Sydney
The number of shared ebikes in Australia has quadrupled in less than two years, with the vast majority in Sydney. According to Transport for NSW, the city's ebike fleet surged from 13,000 in January to over 20,000 in May. NSW Transport Minister John Graham acknowledged the positive growth of shared schemes but emphasized the need for order. 'Pedestrians have been crying out for order and for their footpaths back,' he said, vowing not to allow 'wild west scenes' to continue.
Council powers and pilot programs
Alongside the funding, councils will gain expanded powers to designate 'no-go' and 'go-slow' zones for shared and private ebikes. They can penalize operators if parking areas are not used, with a maximum penalty of $55,000 plus $5,500 per day for ongoing offenses. Multiple councils, including City of Sydney, North Sydney, and Waverley, have already piloted shared parking schemes. Transport for NSW has trialed parking zones at nine train and metro stations, providing space for about 190 ebikes.
Transport agency rollout and safety measures
Transport Secretary Josh Murray said the agency is accelerating its own rollout of bays at transport hubs and stations. 'We're aiming to have 250 bays available by late this year, with 62 already in delivery,' he stated. The government reported that its trial showed marked bays reduced knocked-over bikes and blocked footpaths by half. These measures are part of a broader safety crackdown on shared and private ebikes amid a surge in injuries, following an incident where dozens of ebikes swarmed the Sydney Harbour Bridge earlier this year. Authorities now have powers to seize and crush private ebikes exceeding 25 km/h, but a minimum age for riding ebikes has yet to be decided.
