Uber e-bikes will be taken off the road from today
E-mobility in the city continues to dwindle with an electric bike company pulling its fleet from the CBD and eastern suburbs.
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Uber has hit the brakes on its e-bikes in the Adelaide and Norwood, Payneham & St Peters council areas.
The company is pulling its fleet of 300 JUMP e-bikes from the streets to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.
From today, the bikes cannot be unlocked using the Uber mobile app and will all be back in the shed by the end of the week.
The move follows a decision by e-mobility provider RIDE to recall its yellow e-scooters, while Neuron Mobility has “significantly” scaled back its fleet numbers.
JUMP Australia general manager Henry Greenacre said the e-bike roundup was starting today (Thursday).
“The health and safety of residents in our communities will always come first for JUMP,” Mr Greenacre said.
“We have been very encouraged with how these e-bikes have been embraced so far in this trial and are looking forward to getting back on the road when the time is right.”
JUMP e-bikes were introduced into the two council districts earlier this month as part of a 12-month trial.
The trial is now “temporarily paused”, Mr Greenacre said.
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NP&SP Mayor Robert Bria agreed it was in society’s “best interest” to take the bikes off the road.
“They might send the wrong message by having them on the street when the clear message is we want people to stay indoors unless they really have to go out,” Mr Bria said.
“Hopefully we get out of this on the other side and we’ll be encouraging people to go for a cycle again.”
Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said she looked “forward to JUMP returning to our streets in the weeks ahead“.
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