Beaches from Bondi to Maroubra awash with hire bikes in craze that is taking over Sydney
BEACHSIDE suburbs from Bondi to Maroubra have become overrun with red and yellow hire bikes dumped next to bus stops, trees and bins as the rent-a-ride craze takes hold of Sydney.
Southern Courier
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BEACHSIDE suburbs from Bondi to Maroubra have become overrun with red and yellow hire bikes dumped next to bus stops, trees and bins as the rent-a-ride craze takes hold of Sydney.
An investigation by the Southern Courier found 142 of the rented bikes ‒ operated by Reddy Go and oBike ‒ left across the eastern suburbs with 40 at Bondi and 81 spotted at Coogee.
Some were parked at bike hoops but others were left sprawled across the pavement, next to street signs, trees, bins and heritage shelters while several were propped up against Coogee’s 125-year-old James Robertson Fountain.
Love them or hate them, beachgoers had better get used to them as oBike said the number of users were “doubling week on week” with a spike of bicycle sharing expected over summer and Reddy Go said it was starting to deploy its bikes in Coogee this week.
It is understood that up to 40 dockless bikes, which are hired through an app and do not have a cycle dock to be returned to, were removed by rangers in Centennial Park while Randwick Council is seeking legal advice on how to tackle the new business model.
Coogee resident Simon Bartlett said a “flood of hire bikes” had ended up in the beachside suburb as riders took the scenic downhill route before abandoning their rented rides in favour of the bus back up the hill.
“On a short walk I counted 55 hire bikes without trying,” he said. “Unless some form of ‘pumped pedal’ is found few of these bikes will leave the valley.
“It may put the cause of cycling on Sydney roads back further by alienating ratepayers upset at this clutter and other regular cyclists denied suitable places to secure their bikes.
“Designated locations should have been a requirement for the scheme with financial penalties imposed on those who did not return the bikes to those docking areas.”
But Krista Gerrard, of Maroubra, said: “I am delighted to see so many bikes lined up.
“Most of the bikes are put away safely although if the wind comes, some might fall over.
“But on balance I think it’s a good thing. It’s a reminder that more of us should be doing this ‒ getting out and riding ‒ a bit more often.”
Ms Gerrard, who has hired bikes in several European cities, said more should be done to accommodate cyclists in Sydney including protected cycleways and additional storage sites.
The new scheme, which is popular in Asia but is new to Australia, operates through an app which users download before being able to locate and reserve a bike through their smart phone’s GPS, unlock it and hire it for $1.99 for 30 minutes.
Users are required to pay a deposit of between $70 to $100 to register while oBike penalises riders for “bad behaviour” such as parking bikes in non-designated or illegal spots through a credit system which increases the half hourly hire cost to $19.90 for serial offenders.
Christy Geng, marketing director for Reddy Go, said the company had distributed 160 bikes across Sydney since July with bikes being deployed in Coogee from this week.
“Reddy Go has been well received for the last 2.5 months,” she said. “There were a few teething issues, however 95 per cent feedbacks we received on social media and our email address are positive.”
She said Reddy Go had a “big operations team” running daily to check the conditions of the bikes including safety, replacing or cleaning helmets and relocating the bikes if needed.
“If a bike (is) being left at a non popular area for a few days, our in-built GPS would be able to track location of the bicycle,” Ms Geng said. “We will then attend to relocate accordingly.
“In regards to Centennial Park, the authority didn’t impound any Reddy Go bikes, however they needed us to relocate the bikes should they (have) been parked within Centenial Park area.
“We are working hard to try to achieve an agreement with them.”
A Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands spokeswoman refused to confirm or deny whether users were allowed to leave the hire bikes in the park.
“Centennial Parklands is one of the most bicycle-friendly locations in Sydney, and all bike users are welcome,” she said.
“We are encouraging all dockless bike hire companies to remind customers not to leave bicycles in unsafe or inappropriate locations.”
Ms Geng said Reddy Go had been in talks with every council where its bikes were distributed.
“So far the general guideline is that a bike could be parked anywhere reasonable as long as it doesn’t block footpath, driveway or emergency exits,” she said.
“Preferably it should be left next to a pole or a tree.”
On its website, oBike said the system helped to reduce traffic congestion, environmental pollution and made the city “a better place to live in” while the bikes were convenient for short or one-way trips
“At the end of the ride, just park the bike in a legal designated area and lock it using the app,” it said.
An oBike spokesman told the Courier: “We are happy with the rollout so far in Sydney.
“We have received positive and constructive feedback from the users, public and local government.
“Sydneysiders are free-spirited. Our dockless system will offer convenience and enable them to cycle to their preferred destinations.
“The numbers are doubling week on week. And as we are approaching summer we expect a spike in the adoption of bike-sharing.
“We see bike-sharing being integrated as part of the wider public transportation. It will operate as an essential but complementary service to the entire transportation network.”
A Randwick Council spokesman said: “Council is well aware of the new bike hire schemes operating in Randwick City and in other parts of Sydney.
“We’ve received positive and negative feedback from local residents about the bicycles.
“Randwick Council is supportive of increasing cycling across the area and we welcome ideas to make it easier and more convenient to ride, however this must be balanced against its impact.
“As this is a new business model operating on public land, we’re currently seeking further legal advice to help develop council’s policy on the matter and to establish our legal options.”
A Waverley Council spokeswoman said the e-bike system was largely untested in Australia but had received strong support when the council’s transport vision was exhibited in May and June.
“Since then, two dockless bike share schemes have been launched in Waverley, as well as other key locations in Sydney including Sydney CBD, Manly, Chatswood and Randwick,” she said.
“These new bike share services are not owned or implemented by Waverley Council.
“It’s vital that the Waverley LGA is a safe place for cycling and walking, and we expect all bike riders to park their bikes appropriately.
“Inappropriate bike parking includes parking across footpaths that are too narrow or busy, or where they could pose a safety hazard.”
The council’s website provides information on how to use the system including where to leave bikes safely so footpaths were clear for pedestrians and space was left for regular bikes that needed to be locked to a bike hoop.
“If you spot a share bike which is causing obstruction, you can contact the bike share companies directly,” the council spokeswoman said. “Note that the bikes can also be picked up and moved to an appropriate location if necessary.
“Council is working cooperatively with the bike share operators to ensure that this transition is as smooth as possible and that public access and safety is always maintained.”
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