Abandoned oBikes classified as litter in Victoria

Abandoned oBikes will be classified as litter under a new fine system, with the company liable for $3000 penalties.

Abandoned oBikes will now be classified as litter in Victoria. Picture: Stuart McEvoy.

Abandoned oBikes will be classified as litter under a tough new fine regime in Victoria announced today, with the bike share company liable for $3000 penalties per bicycle.

Victoria’s Environmental Protection Agency will put out a litter abatement order on oBikes dumped in streets and rivers from June 6.

The bike share company will have two hours to remove individual bikes left in the street, or receive a $3000 fine.

They will have 24 hours to remove clusters of bikes, and seven days to take oBikes out of rivers and creeks, or receive they fine.

EPA chief executive Nial Finegan told Melbourne’s 3AW radio he was left with little choice as oBikes had not been co-operating with his agency.

“We’ve tried to work with oBikes, we’ve written to them, we’ve tried to get information through statutory notices, and so on, to little avail,” he said.

“$3000 per bike. That should encourage them to run their service in a more appropriate way and stop annoying people in Melbourne.”

The EPA rules will be enforced by the City of Melbourne and Mr Finegan said the EPA would be meeting with the inner-city City of Port Philip and City of Yarra local councils.

“This notice empowers local councils to enforce these rules … those are the three councils that have the greatest trouble with oBikes,” he said.

Mr Finegan said he was not trying to stifle innovation and was open to work with oBikes and other companies.

“This is not necessarily about oBikes … this is saying to people coming into Victoria: ‘you’re welcome, but we expect you to understand your impact on the environment’,” he said.

“In the absence of a good management plan, we’re more than happy to assist you and give you something that will help you to do your job properly.”

Mr Finegan said oBikes have had the notices for some time and they have exhausted their appeal period.