PROPOSED E-BIKE BAN ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The Victorian state government is introducing new regulations to ban e-bikes, and other e-devices such as electric scooters and skateboards, on public transport. The consultation period is very short and closes 18 August.
The intention here is to prevent lithium-ion battery fires. The documentation supporting the consultation here makes it very clear it is non-compliant conversions and electric motorcycles that are the problem: there is no justification for banning ALL e-bikes. It's absolutely essential that people have a safe workplace but there also needs to be some consideration for the core service provided and the needs of the people using it especially when it is as basic a service as public transport.
The people who will comply with the ban are the people who are riding compliant legal e-bikes who respect regulations.
With this ban, there is no incentive for the companies employing delivery riders to upgrade the bikes used— if riders can’t use legally use public transport to get to work, there may even be an incentive for them to use higher-powered, illegal, electric motorbikes. The Victorian coroner has already criticised the State Government for “sub-optimal” regulation of non-compliant e-bikes— this overreach is a missed opportunity to clean up the sector.
Let the government know how this will impact you:
Make an submission to the new regulations Now closed.
Ring or email your local MPs:
Albert Park MP: Nina Taylor (Labor) Email: Nina.Taylor@parliament.vic.gov.au. Phone: (03) 9646 7173
Brighton MP: James Newbury (Liberal) Email: James.Newbury@parliament.vic.gov.au Phone: (03) 9592 1900
Prahran MP: Rachel Westaway (Liberal) Email: rachel.westaway@parliament.vic.gov.au Phone: (03) 9981 9501
Caulfield MP: David Southwick (Liberal) Email: david.southwick@parliament.vic.gov.au Phone: (03) 9527 3866
Southern Metropolitan Region MLC: Georgie Crozier (Liberal) Email: georgie.crozier@parliament.vic.gov.au Phone: (03) 7005 8699
Southern Metropolitan Region MLC: David Davis (Liberal) Email: david.davis@parliament.vic.gov.au Phone: (03) 9827 6655
Southern Metropolitan Region MLC: Katherine Copsey (Greens) Email: katherine.copsey@parliament.vic.gov.au Phone: (03) 9530 8399
Southern Metropolitan Region MLC: Ryan Batchelor (Labor). Email: ryan.batchelor@parliament.vic.gov.au Phone: (03) 9557 1500
Southern Metropolitan Region MLC: John Berger (Labor) Email: john.berger@parliament.vic.gov.au Phone: (03) 7008 8466
Campaign resources
Department of Transport and Planning’s page on the new regulations
Bicycle Network’s reporting on the issue
Article in The Senior: Nomads cycling group to fight proposed e-bike ban on public transport. George Willox, 68, of the Nomads Cycling Group told The Senior more than just social connections are at stake, as many mature cyclists transition to assistive technology to keep them mobile and active.
Port Phillip Bicycle Users Group draft submission to the consultation