Share bikes littering Sydney streets prompts calls for new Minns Government to act

They’re back— Sydney’s streets are once again littered with share e-bikes, prompting calls for NSW’s new government to take control and implement a crackdown. See the pictures here.

Share e-bikes are being dumped around Sydney’s streets again as a new wave of start-up rental operators enter the market – and there are calls for the new Minns Government to tackle the issue head-on.

At least six new share bike operators have started leaving their electric powered GPS-tracked bikes on streets around the city - but some are ending up abandoned in unsafe locations.

At Wolli Creek railway station, bikes have been left dumped on stairs, while many other bikes are being left on footpaths without helmets – making them illegal to ride in NSW.

When the new dockless electric bikes were first introduced in Sydney in 2017, a wave of concern over mass dumpings, including in waterways, led to new guidelines and fines.

But the problem is resurfacing and Business Sydney wants to raise it with the incoming government and new minister, after having discussions with Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and telling the previous government that some discarded bikes were “dangerous for pedestrians and an eyesore”.

Share bikes posing a hazard at the Wolli Creek railway station after being dumped.

“I’m all for share bikes but having them littering the streets is just that, another form of litter that needs to be addressed,” executive director Paul Nicolaou said.

“The situation isn’t as bad now as it was previously but there is still reason for concern.

An abandoned share bike in Sydney CBD. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“The share bike industry’s reputation is only as good as where its customers leave their bikes.

“Clearly on stairways and straddling city footpaths is not good enough.

“Greater control is needed so that share bike companies actively retrieve their bikes.

“We look forward to taking it up with the incoming government.”

The organisation has proposed a requirement for appropriate racks for the bikes, like in Brisbane and Melbourne, and that rental companies have to pick up unused bikes within 48 hours.

In the last 12 months the City of Sydney has received 41 complaints regarding shared bikes parked on footpaths that are blocking pedestrian flow, while the Inner West Council has received 72 customer complaints around them.

Asked what Sydney Council would be doing about abandoned bikes, a spokesman responded: “NSW councils do not have regulatory control over bike share operators.

Bikes are left blocking pathways. Picture: John Grainger

A bike impeding pedestrians in the Sydney CBD. Source: Supplied.

“The City supports the concept of bike share but we need to ensure safety, redistribution of bikes and footpath access are all maintained.”

The previous Perrottet Government’s local government minister Wendy Tuckerman brought in tough new fines last October for abandoning items like bikes and shopping trolleys, but her office last week was unable to answer how many people had been fined since then.

One of the new companies, Beam, says their bikes have their own unique QR codes which means every bike can be tracked 24/7 and that if a member of the public reports a badly parked parked e-bike, they dispatch marshals out to move them.

“Our marshals are on the streets 24-hours a day in Sydney, with a team specifically tasked to ensuring the streets are tidy,” she said.

“To maintain city amenity, our virtual parking docks utilise technology and GPS to direct riders to appropriate parking spots, with virtual parking locations created to incentivise parking in recommended locations,” he said.

“When riders finish their ride, we ask them to take a photo so we know it is parked safely.

“Beam has a three-strikes policy in place, which enforces riding and parking rules.” As for helmets, she said the marshalls are sent to replace any missing helmets