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 of bikes blocking footpaths. The funding, part of the Sharing Scheme Grant Program, will allow each of the 16 councils hosting shared ebike schemes to nominate and paint dedicated parking areas, with up to $200,000 per council.
Funding and Levy Details
The program is financed through a 60-cent fee on each shared ebike trip, paid by operators such as Lime. When the program was first announced last year, operators indicated the levy would likely be passed on to users through existing management fees. The number of shared ebikes in Australia has quadrupled in less than two years, with Sydney's fleet surging from 13,000 in January to more than 20,000 in May, according to Transport for NSW.
Minister's Statement
NSW transport minister John Graham said the growth of shared schemes is positive, but "we are not willing to stand around and let the wild west scenes … go on any longer." He added, "Pedestrians have been crying out for order and for their footpaths back." The government aims to deliver marked bays on streets and kerbside zones in areas with the most conflict and complaints.
Council Powers and Pilot Programs
The scheme, first announced last year, expands local government powers. Councils can now designate "no-go" and "go-slow" zones for shared and private ebikes, and penalise operators if parking areas are not used, with a maximum penalty of $55,000 plus $5,500 per day for continued offences. Multiple councils, including City of Sydney, North Sydney and Waverley, have already piloted shared parking schemes. Transport for NSW has trialled parking zones at nine train and metro stations, with space for about 190 ebikes.
Transport Agency Rollout
Transport secretary Josh Murray said the agency is accelerating its own rollout of bays at other transport hubs and stations. "We're aiming to have 250 bays available by late this year, with 62 already in delivery," he said. The government noted that its trial showed marked bays reduce kicked-over bikes and blocked footpaths by half.
Safety Crackdown Context
The changes are part of a broader safety crackdown on shared and private ebikes amid a surge in injuries, following an incident earlier this year when dozens of ebikes swarmed the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The government has also given authorities powers to seize and crush private ebikes operating at speeds over 25 km/h, but has yet to decide on a minimum age to ride an ebike.
