E-bike, e-scooter ban flagged for trains over fire risk

Electric scooters and e-bikes would be banned from Victorian trains in a transport department proposal to address the risk of lithium-ion battery fires.

A Metro train was evacuated in March when an e-bike burst into flames at Union Station, in Melbourne’s east, while e-bike and e-scooter batteries have also been blamed for hundreds of house fires over the past few years.

An e-bike caught on fire on a Metro train in March.Credit: Reddit

On Tuesday, the Department of Transport and Planning proposed new bans on e-scooters, e-bikes and other battery-powered transport devices such as e-skateboards from Metro and V/Line trains and V/Line coaches.

“A fire on a train is a serious safety issue because it may be difficult to evacuate passengers on a crowded service or where trains are in between stations,” a summary paper of the rule changes says.

Victoria intends to ban e-bikes and e-scooters from trains due to the risk of fires. Credit: Reddit

“Electrical fires from these devices can start without warning, are extremely difficult to extinguish and quickly spread toxic smoke.”

E-bikes and e-scooters were recently banned from London’s Underground because of the fire risk.

But Peter Bourke, from cycling advocacy group WeRide Australia said owners of safe, high-quality e-bikes were being punished for the state and federal government’s failure to impose safety standards on e-bike and battery imports.

“The governments have created the problem, and the problem is un-roadworthy motorbikes masquerading as e-bikes,” he said. “The quality products that meet the standards – there’s been no problem with them.”

Bourke said Australia had previously applied European safety and quality standards to e-bikes, including their batteries, but the federal government revoked that standard in 2021.

Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormick said the ban would negatively affect those who take e-bikes on trains as part of their daily commute, or use a train to access recreational bike trails around the state.

“It should be temporary while state and federal governments move towards establishing proper Australian standards for e-bikes that keep substandard e-bikes and batteries out of the country,” she said. “Proper regulation of e-bikes and batteries will fix the underlying problem.”

Foldable e-bikes and e-scooters will still be permitted on trams and buses because they can stop faster and evacuate passengers more easily in the case of a fire.

Passengers will still be able to bring non-electric bicycles onto trains, provided they do not board the first door on the first carriage, which is a priority boarding area for people with mobility aids.

The proposed new rules – which are open to public consultation and slated to come into effect on September 30 this year – do not affect mobility scooters.

Other proposed changes to the state’s Conduct on Public Transport regulations include reducing the fine for a passenger putting their feet on a seat from 1.5 penalty units (currently $305) to 0.5 units ($102), to “align the offences and penalties with the harms”.

However, passengers with mud on their shoes could run afoul of a new “soiling furniture” offence, which would carry a $305 fine.

Authorised Officers issued 50,814 fines to passengers for putting their feet on seats in the eight years between 2017 and 2024, according to a Regulatory Impact Statement on the proposed rule changes.

Rules would also be updated to require passengers to vacate a priority seating area when a wheelchair user boards their train, tram or bus via the closest door.

Currently, passengers are only required to vacate their seat if asked to do so, but the new rule “removes the onus on the wheelchair user to request access to the designated space, which can cause discomfort”.

The department said it is also considering whether to permit small children’s bicycles on trams and buses. They are banned under the current regulations, despite typically being the same size as a pram or folding bike.

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