Minister calls on councils to do more to tackle oBike clutter

A STATE government minister is demanding inner Melbourne councils do more to tackle the city’s unsightly oBike problem, saying the municipalities need to tackle the issue.

STATE government minister Martin Foley wants councils to do more to tackle the problem of dumped oBikes in central Melbourne.

Mr Foley has called for oBike management to be fined for illegal dumping and said an agreement struck with three inner-city councils — Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra — had merely given them immunity from prosecution.

Hundreds of the dockless share bikes were introduced in Melbourne in June but many people had damaged or discarded the yellow cycles, creating clutter on the footpaths and parks.

COUNCILS’ DEAL ON OBIKES

A submerged Obike on the Yarra River in Melbourne. Pic: Aaron Francis

An oBike left on a tree on Stubbs St, Kensington. Pic: Supplied

A passer-by observes an oBike in a tree in Union St, Windsor. Picture: Ian Currie

Two trawls of the Yarra River have resulted in more than 50 bikes being fished out.

Mr Foley, the member for Albert Park, said oBike management should “comply or perish”.

“oBikes should not be given a pass-out from compliance and potential docking facilities,’’ he said.

“It would be a pity to see such a good idea crash through poor management and the ignoring of community sentiment.’’

The head of oBike Australia, CP Lim, said the company was committed to the memorandum of understanding.

You and I would be fined for rubbish dumping. @AustraliaObike claim immunity thru local government MOU for business model - clearly unsafe https://t.co/yxtwsRyhyN

— Martin Foley (@MartinFoleyMP) December 23, 2017

Hey @AustraliaObike - your business model is taking water https://t.co/2t8Xazyouv pic.twitter.com/ZVPin24mtS

— Martin Foley (@MartinFoleyMP) December 22, 2017

Dear #obike - when did you go submarine? time to admit you are incapable of delivering on your promised MOU pic.twitter.com/9M1Os5Euf9

— Martin Foley (@MartinFoleyMP) December 17, 2017

“We will continue to work closely with the councils in the respective cities to address public complaints and issues in accordance to the guidelines stated in the MOU,” he said.

A City of Melbourne spokeswoman said regulation for share bikes was primarily a state government responsibility.

“The development of dockless bike sharing requires specific regulatory responses that are not currently available to local governments,’’ she said.

The number of oBike complaints have dropped from 79 to 47 in the two months from September to November.

Since the agreement with oBike Australia, 45 bikes were impounded and the company paid $2250 in release fees and collected all of the cycles. No oBikes are currently impounded.

Port Phillp mayor Bernadene Voss said she was disappointed with Mr Foley’s comments.

“This issue is much bigger than local councils; it’s a state government responsibility,’’ Cr Voss said.

“We’re doing all we can through our joint MoU but dockless bike sharing is new and having an impact on public and open spaces and we really need the support of the Victorian Government to help solve the problem. oBike is the only current player in Melbourne but it may not be the last if more operators move in.’’

Cr Voss said oBike management’s responses to council requests to remove damaged or dumped bikes had been good but could do better.

“Council has received 155 reports about oBikes since the first bikes were introduced to Port Phillip in July 2017. So far, none has been impounded.’’

Yarra council was also invited to comment.

In October, the three councils signed a memorandum of understanding with oBike Australia, giving them operating guidelines about the bikes.

The agreement aimed to ensure the bikes did not obstruct footpaths, were clear of traffic and parked upright.

Any dangerously placed oBikes have to be relocated within two hours.

THREAT TO BAN DOCKLESS BIKES

42 BIKES FISHED FROM YARRA RIVER

oBikes dumped on a North Melbourne footpath. Picture: AAP

An oBike submerged off St Kilda Pier, Melbourne. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

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@IanRoyall