I like e-bikes. I use mine daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I don’t leave it blocking footpaths, and I don’t ride it on footpaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2020, Yarra Council entered into a trial agreement with Lime to operate a shared e-bike service across the municipality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the course of that trial:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
* 425,000 trips were taken, averaging about 200 trips per day<\/p>\n\n\n\n
* 200 daily users is about 0.2% of Yarra’s population;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
* The average trip was about 1.6 kilometres and lasted less than 10 minutes;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shared e-bikes have provided a transport option for many people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for every person who tells me they enjoy using them, I’ve heard countless complaints about bikes being left across footpaths, obstructing access, or being ridden where they shouldn’t be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Importantly, under the trial agreement, Council did NOT receive any share of the revenue generated by the service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, Council incurred substantial direct and indirect costs responding to complaints, managing the trial and addressing community concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In December 2025, a majority of Councillors (Gomez, Jolly, Aston, Ho, Davies, Harrison and McKenzie) voted to test the market and seek better terms for the operation of a shared e-bike service in Yarra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No suitable proposal was received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On 14 July 2026, Councillors subsequently voted to bring the trial agreement to an end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That decision was NOT a vote against e-bikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a vote against an arrangement that transferred costs and risks to Yarra ratepayers without compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yarra Council remains open to working with any shared e-bike operator willing to provide a service on terms that are fair to ratepayers, supports public safety and community concerns, and ensures an appropriate level of accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Councillor Ken Gomez<\/p>\n\n\n\n