The number of shared electric bikes in Australia has quadrupled in less than two years, reaching nearly 25,000, with the majority concentrated in Sydney. Lime, the largest operator, now runs an estimated 18,000 ebikes nationwide, having expanded rapidly amid rising fuel prices and increased government support.
Lime has entered Canberra and doubled its fleet in Sydney multiple times, now operating about 14,000 ebikes in the city. Usage has surged, with Sydney's ebikes powering over 40,000 daily trips in April, more than half in the CBD. The New South Wales government has actively supported the schemes, with Transport Minister John Graham calling them 'good for congestion, the environment and the hip pocket'.
The boom follows earlier failures of shared bike operators like oBike, which collapsed in 2018 after bikes were dumped in rivers and vandalised. Former oBike marketing lead Chethan Rangaswamy noted that early companies correctly identified a gap in the 'last mile' of commuter trips but struggled with costs and behaviour. Lime's Asia-Pacific head Will Peters attributes its survival to learning from competitors' mistakes and building a more robust 43kg bike that is harder to damage.
Lime now plans to expand west to Parramatta and across Sydney's northern beaches. However, operators say they need continued government help to meet growing demand and manage parking and safety issues.
