How Gold Coast’s bike hire scheme will work
HUNDREDS of bikes will be ready for public hire as early as January next year as a part of the Gold Coast’s new public bike share scheme. Here’s how it will work.
Council
Don't miss out on the headlines from Council. Followed categories will be added to My News.
HUNDREDS of bikes will be ready for public hire as early as January next year as a part of a public bike share scheme.
The Gold Coast City Council will launch an expression of interest this weekend for a company to operate the system.
Mayor Tom Tate said unlike other systems in Australia, the Gold Coast scheme would not need any infrastructure and also called for a relaxation of helmet laws.
“Basically you are going to be able to drop it off where you are going to and someone else can pick it up,” he said.
The share system will work using an app which can locate bikes through a GPS tracking system, those using the app can then unlock the bike, along with a helmet, and take it to their destination.
From there the next user will be able to locate the bike and use it.
The system means no docking stations will be needed like with the bike share scheme in Brisbane.
However, a similar system in operation in China has seen thousands of bikes dumped in piles in city streets.
Cr Tate said that would be avoided.
“It will be up to the share scheme operator to pick up the bikes, and disperse them where needed,” he said.
The number of bikes in the share scheme will be scaled up and down to meet demand.
Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, Southport and Varsity Lakes will be the first suburbs to access the bikes.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ruled out relaxing helmet laws to boost to bike share scheme.
“I think that’s going to be very problematic,” she said at a Commonwealth Games function this morning.
“We know that bicycle helmets save lives, there’s very clear evidence that shows that.
“I’m more than happy to speak with Tom Tate about those issues next week and give him the information that backs up what I’m saying.”
Bemused MP’s slapdown for council on parking fines
A Gold Coast MP has questioned why council is writing to the state to get parking rules relaxed – claiming legislation not only allows them to do so, but councils including Logan already take advantage. Watch the video of how Logan do it.
‘Shoe print on his head’: Family of teen bashing victim speak out
An evening walk to grab an ice cream took a shocking turn for a couple of Gold Coast teens, allegedly brutally bashed in a gang attack and left with shocking injuries. Now their parents have revealed the devastating toll.