Ebikes cluttering Sydney footpaths to be swept aside by new bill – but riders may bear brunt of levy

Transport for NSW and councils will be able to issue penalties to operators who fail to remove illegally parked bikes

Dumped electric bikes will no longer clutter Sydney’s entranceways and footpaths under laws being introduced to parliament on Wednesday, says the New South Wales government.

Local councils will get the power to decide where ebike companies can operate in their area as well as to establish marked parking bays and go-slow and no-go areas.

Under the legislation, operators will also be required to provide helmets for all bikes, as well as organise their distribution and collection.

Transport for NSW and councils will also be able to issue penalties to operators who fail to remove illegally parked bikes – a maximum penalty of $55,000 plus $5,500 for each day the offence continues.

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But users are likely to bear at least some of the cost of the scheme, which operators will nominally fund, with 25% of contributions going to local councils and 75% to the government and Transport for NSW.

The NSW transport minister, John Graham, told reporters on Wednesday this would mean a levy of about 80c a trip. “That will, of course, add to the cost,” he said.

Guardian Australia contacted several ebike operators in Sydney to ask if they would pass this on to users. Will Peters, head of Asia Pacific for Lime, said the company would incorporate the levy into “a balanced approach that keeps each trip as affordable as possible for riders”.

A spokesperson for operator Ario said the company was yet to make a final decision, but the levy would probably be integrated in some form into existing management fees for users.

Graham said shared ebikes have become an “eyesore and a danger for pedestrians for too long”.

“We know shared ebikes reduce congestion, connect our transport system and reduce emissions but the current voluntary approach to parking and safety isn’t working.”

Under the scheme, Transport for NSW and councils will nominate street and kerbside parking bays in town centres, train and metro stations.

On Wednesday, the transport minister emphasised the popularity of ebikes with users for “that last mile, that first mile” of their commute.

Asked if the scheme, which could make it difficult to park an ebike on suburban streets, risked pushing users back to cars, Graham said the environmental benefits of shared devices had to go “hand in hand” with better organisation.

Graham said he hoped the changes will be passed before the summer, but would then take “a couple of months” to organise with councillors and operators.

The government will have the power to overrule councils who refuse to allow ebikes for unreasonable grounds. Waverley council has so far committed to more than 60 parking spaces.

A spokesperson for Ario said it was important to “set community expectations” in Sydney, relative to cities like London, which has thousands of ebike parking spaces.

“Not every bike is going to be in a parking spot right away,” they said.

The NSW secretary of transport, Josh Murray, said 6% of people in NSW now ride a shared or rented ebike at least once a month.

“While this number is likely to grow rapidly, we need to address the impact of poorly parked devices,” he said, adding they limit access to buildings and footpaths for “people with prams, elderly people and people with mobility needs”.

The proposed regime, which Graham described as an Australian first and one of the toughest for shared services in the country, follows the City of Melbourne’s decision to end contracts with operators Lime and Neuron for its rental e-scooter scheme.

Paris became the first European city to ban rented e-scooters in 2023, although privately owned vehicles are still allowed.

The NSW changes to do not affect e-scooters, for which a shared trial is ongoing.

It remains illegal to ride private e-scooters in the state, but after a parliamentary inquiry this year, the government proposed allowing them to be ridden on shared paths with a default speed limit of between 10km/h and 20km/h.

Doctors have urged strict regulation including bans on riders aged under 16.

Last month, the government announced a ban on “converted” ebikes – regular pedal bikes that have been fitted with motors – on Sydney trains, effective from the start of next month, because of the risk of lithium-ion battery fires.