Cycling in Melbourne: Dockless bike sharing system ready to roam

A NEW dockless bike sharing system — dubbed Uber for bikes — is set to hit Melbourne.

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A NEW dockless bike sharing system — dubbed Uber for bikes — is set to hit Melbourne.

Transport for Victoria, which has been monitoring dockless bike share programs overseas, has met with a number of companies looking to start-up in Melbourne.

In dockless systems, bikes are fitted with GPS technology and customers use a smartphone app to locate, unlock, ride and pay for use of the bike.

Because bikes do not need to be rented or returned to a dock, customers have greater flexibility in the use of the bike and can leave it at their destination.

oBike — which runs a popular scheme in Singapore — recently announced its intentions to launch in Melbourne.

Transport for Victoria has been monitoring dockless bike share programs overseas. Picture: Thinkstock

According to its website, the bikes will be priced at $1.99 for 30 minutes.

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said Transport for Victoria officials are continuing to meet with interested companies to ensure the best outcomes for Melbourne.

“We support new and innovative businesses choosing Victoria, and we welcome moves to get more people on bikes,” Mr Donnellan said.

“But we’ll be making sure that these companies comply with our laws and community expectations.”

In China, thousands of bikes are parked around the city, including huge piles of bikes in poor working order because nobody takes care of them.

Harold Scruby, chairman of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, raised fears it could lead to similar bike littering in Melbourne.

“Melbourne is already the capital for parking motorbikes on footpaths and bicycles could be next,” he said.

“I’ve seen it in China where these cheap and nasty bikes are left everywhere.

“Councils always put pedestrians last when we make up 92 per cent of CBD road users.”

Cyclists on Footscray Road in the Docklands heading into the city. Picture: Mark Wilson

Councillor Nicolas Frances Gilley, chair of the City of Melbourne’s transport portfolio, said it had a policy of encouraging cycling and supporting bike sharing.

“We are working through the opportunities and implications of the new bike-sharing models emerging in Melbourne,” Councillor Frances Gilley said.

“We will keep working for a city in which both walking and cycling are safe and enjoyable.”

RACV spokeswoman Anastasia Karalis, which has been operating the Melbourne Bike Share scheme on behalf of PTV since 2010, said in the past four months it has averaged around 19,000 rides per month.

“Melbourne Bike Share is an easy and inexpensive way to move around central Melbourne and is regularly used by tourists visiting the city and commuters getting to and from work,” she said.

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