Shared e-bikes will soon be removed from parts of inner Melbourne after the City of Yarra voted to end its agreement with operator Lime, bringing a six-year trial to a close.
The council decided not to award a permanent contract for the shared e-bike scheme, despite recognising the service as an affordable and environmentally friendly transport option for many residents. Lime was the only company to submit a tender for the future operation of e-bikes in the municipality.
The decision means Lime will have 30 days to cease operations in Yarra once formal notice is provided by council.
City of Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly said the decision was made reluctantly, but the council had been unable to reach an agreement with Lime over concerns about dumped bikes and street access.
“We’re getting too many e-bikes just dumped on our streets. That’s a cost to council as we have to clean up; the company doesn’t do it,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“That makes the footpath much more difficult for people with prams and wheelchairs and all the rest of it.”
He said council had attempted to work with the operator to address ongoing issues but had not received the commitments it was seeking.
“They said, ‘No, we can’t help,’ and we had no choice but to say, ‘Well, unless you come to the party, we’re not going to give you this tender’.”
Since the trial began in 2020, council officers reported receiving around 100 complaints relating to issues including abandoned bikes, footpath riding, speeding, helmet use and tandem riding.
Deputy Mayor Sharon Harrison said Lime had failed to adequately manage its operations and address community safety concerns.
“They’ve been given every opportunity to clean up their act and improve their game, but I see no evidence of this happening,” she said.
Despite the concerns, shared e-bikes remained popular among locals, with council data showing an average of 201 trips per day and around 90 per cent of users coming from within the local area.
The decision is expected to prompt other inner-city councils, including the City of Melbourne, to review their own shared e-bike arrangements.
