Sydney City Council has recently called for "urgent action" to address the problems caused by the increasing popularity of shared bikes in the city. Waverley Council, whose jurisdiction includes eastern suburbs such as Bondi, stated that they are "constantly receiving complaints about shared bikes."
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03-20, 2025The city council stated that residents are tired of shared bikes being "carelessly discarded on sidewalks and ridden at dangerous speeds." Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh said "enough is enough" and that he would "take swift and direct action" if shared bike companies do not reach a new agreement with the city council.
Although shared bikes are the responsibility of the state government, city councils have the right to take action against unattended property. Mayor Nemesh said: "I propose establishing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with shared bike providers, requiring operators to take more responsibility for how shared bikes are used and where they are stored." He added: "While this is a state government policy area, I have made it clear to operators that I will take swift and direct action if an agreement cannot be reached with the city council within a month."
Mayor Nemesh also emphasized: "Shared micro-mobility is the way of the future, but we must first establish the right framework and ensure community safety is put first." The city council hopes to establish rules on the maximum number of bikes allowed and reach agreements on where bikes can be parked and how fast they can be ridden. This would force operators to bear the costs of implementing and enforcing the agreement. A city council motion also includes a six-month trial of a shared bike parking program starting in June. The program will set up designated parking areas on sidewalks and streets in busy areas such as Bondi Junction, Bondi Beach and Bronte Beach.
Mayor Nemesh believes that the solution requires joint action from local and state governments. He called on the New South Wales government to implement a state-level bidding process for shared bike services and develop clear operational controls. "We propose that a portion of the revenue generated be allocated to local city councils for infrastructure construction and law enforcement, so that we can play a role on the ground." The city council stated that shared bike trips in Waverley increased by 350% between 2021 and 2024. Last year, bicycle advocates and councilors again called for more action to address the problem of e-bikes being parked haphazardly on sidewalks in Sydney. Local residents on the Gold Coast also want to see stricter regulations.
Some people injured by e-bikes have also called for strict measures, including the family of a tourist and a pregnant woman. According to regulations from the New South Wales Department of Transport, permitted e-bikes are equipped with electric motors and batteries that can assist riders to a maximum speed of 25 km/h. Gasoline-powered bikes, internal combustion engines, or bicycles driven by electric engines are illegal. E-bikes must not be ridden on sidewalks and must not be ridden "negligently, wildly or recklessly," and helmets must be worn at all times on all bikes. Police can fine those who violate the regulations. 9news.com.au has contacted the New South Wales Department of Transport for comment.
