Parramatta Council’s move to crack down on e-bikes over safety concerns

Fears are growing that the safety of pedestrians in the Parramatta CBD – already teeming with speeding e-bikes – will escalate when light rail trams start operating. Here is how a fed-up council wants to control the ‘disaster’.

E-bikes are a common sight at Church St Parramatta.

Fears are growing that the safety of pedestrians in the Parramatta CBD – already teeming with speeding e-bikes – will escalate when light rail trams start operating in August.

Fed up with the influx of rogue cyclists flouting rules, Parramatta Council has unanimously agreed to write to the state government to regulate the “nightmare” in the heart of the CBD, particularly Centenary Square and the Church St dining strip.

Councillor Patricia Prociv said many riders whizzing through Parramatta’s streets only had Indian drivers’ licences and did not need an Australian licence to ride an e-bike.

“They just need to hire an e-bike, so they do not know the road rules – or they’re not familiar with the road rules,’’ she said.

“The unfamiliarity with the road rules, with trying to make a bit of money to survive – I just think it’s a recipe for disaster.’’

Food delivery e-bike riders have flooded Parramatta.

Cr Prociv called for riders – many who work for food delivery services – to require licences so they could be regulated.

“This is purely about safety – safety for pedestrians, safety for people who use footpaths, active transport users, and safety for the people who ride the bikes,’’ she said.

E-bikes have flooded Parramatta in recent years with the proliferation of food delivery services and many bikes have larger motors than the legally-permitted variety, which means riders are cycling beyond the permitted 25km/h.

Concerns were raised at a recent council meeting that e-bike riders will illegally use the footpath more when trams start running and threaten wheelchair and pedestrians’ safety.

Lichaa men’s clothing shop owner Anthony Lichaa wants to “get rid” of the e-bikes after he and fellow Parramatta trader George Azzi saw a cyclist knock over an elderly woman on Church St this month.

Parramatta traders Anthony Lichaa and George Azzi.

“The driver said ‘you have to watch where you’re going, woman’,’’ Mr Lichaa said.

“He put the blame on her. This is their problem – they ride pretty quickly. The amount of time we’ve told riders to slow down or get off the footpath is incredible.’’

Mr Azzi called for riders to be issued fines.

“Then they’ll learn pretty quickly,’’ he said. “We see them bashing into people.

“The Uber Eats ones are crazy.’’

Mr Lichaa called for a lane designated just for the e-bikes along Church St.

Lichaa owner Anthony Lichaa says a designated e-bike lane could provide a solution at Church St.

Surplus City camping supplies store manager Matthew Bennett said: “I’ve seen people stack it in the middle of the light rail tracks.’’

The shop’s owner Eric Vozzo said food delivery riders were further distracted when they looked at their iPads.

“When the trams are going to run, the bikes are going to be closer to the shop. It’s going to be worse,’’ he said.

San Churro dessert restaurant manager Steph Hall also witnesses riders ignoring rules.

San Churro Parramatta dessert restaurant manager Steph Hall and supervisor Layla Burrows constantly witness riders breaking the rules.

“They don’t follow the rules,’’ she said.

“They’re supposed to dismount here (on Church St light rail lines) but they don’t obey the rules.’’

The restaurant’s supervisor Layla Burrows has also encountered riders acting disrespectfully.

“They were tailing this old woman once and they were beeping,’’ she said.

“I’m like, ‘you’re not allowed’.’’

The council’s city strategy manager Jennifer Concato said the state government enforced e-bikes.

The council will write to the transport, police, and work health and safety ministers about the conflict between pedestrians and riders in a bid to regulate riders.

Originally published as Parramatta Council’s move to crack down on e-bikes over safety concerns