Cleaning up the mess of failed share bikes

12 July 2018 | Media Release

Wednesday, 11 July 2018

Waverley Council is encouraging bike-sharing companies withdrawing from Sydney to continue to be responsible for their property.

To date, Waverley Council has impounded 107 share bikes left in public spaces, of which more than half had been reclaimed prior to companies announcing that they are leaving the market.

Share bike company ofo previously collected 52 bikes and paid impound fees of $3640. Mobike collected eight bikes and paid impound fees of $560.

Waverley Mayor John Wakefield said he was pleased that two of the companies had taken responsibility for their bikes and encouraged them to continue to do so.

“Share bike operators have been doing a better job and taking council's and residents' concerns more seriously since we starting impounding their abandon bikes in March,” Mayor Wakefield said.

A total of 33 bikes belonging to Obikes and 14 belonging to Reddy Go remain unclaimed. Council has contacted the companies, and unclaimed bikes will most likely be recycled, ultimately, at ratepayers’ expense.

Waverley residents are encouraged to continue to contact individual bike share companies if they are concerned about the location or condition of share bikes.

Waverley Council supports bike share schemes and bicycle use more widely and wants to see bikes fully integrated into Waverley’s public transport options in a responsible manner.

“Bike share will be a priority for our Bike Advisory Committee, which we established in March to help make the area more bike-friendly,” Mayor Wakefield said.

“The committee will mean greater consultation between the bike riding community and council, with planning of bike-related capital works and cycling infrastructure, a regional cycling strategy in conjunction with neighbouring councils and cycling promotion and education in schools.”

Work begins next month on the much-anticipated $12 million Bondi Junction Cycleway.

The cycleway is the missing link in the bike route between the eastern suburbs and the CBD.

Council began planning and developing the design of the cycleway in 2014. The cycleway is the #1 priority cycle route in the Waverley Bike Plan.

Waverley Council contributed $2.4 million for the project. Works are expected to be completed by late 2020.

-ENDS-