Dear federal candidate….

Ananya Sharma on the fantastic new Castlereagh Street cycleway in Sydney’s CBD. Bikes are good for cities! (Image: Bicycle NSW)

Dear federal candidate,

The demand for e-bikes in Australia is growing rapidly. E-bikes are a necessary investment for the future generation. They not only promote the Australian Government’s vision of creating an inclusive community but also significantly reduce carbon emissions. 

But there are some problems. I’m sure you often receive emails and letters from people in your community who are concerned about all the e-bikes that have appeared recently. Some riders seem to go very fast, and e-bikes are often on the footpaths, which is a worry for pedestrians, particularly older people. There seem to be battery fires every week. 

Although many federal members of parliament assume that transport is a state of local issue, there are actually many things that federal representatives could do to help improve things. And most of these do not have a significant cost! 

Why invest in the e-bike market

Today, Australia ranks very low on climate indices in being able to achieve Net Zero in 2050. In various areas of Australia there is bad traffic congestion. This creates a stress on the life of people and the government. 

Most of the people on the road are going to school and to work. Usually, their travel is within 5 km. Public transport, while a great alternative, is not always the easiest or the cheapest option. With changing schedules, or bus or metro stations far from home, driving seems like an easier choice. But it is the heavier option for the environment. 

E-bikes are a great alternative. You can have a really convenient vehicle that makes the choice to travel sustainably everyday easy – with a comparatively lighter burden on the environment. 

A bigger investment towards active transport does not require major changes to existing policy. And it would have a huge positive impact on the economy, climate of Australia as well as people's social environment.

Imagine if every family could use an e-bike instead of an SUV? (Image: Yuba Bikes)

Let’s introduce subsidies 

Currently e-bikes in Australia do not have subsidies. Instead, there is a 5% nuisance tax on them and not Fringe Benefit Tax exemption! These imposts are detrimental to the development of inclusive cycling, as not everyone can afford bikes with extra taxes. Subsidies could grow e-bikes tremendously and make the transition from cars to bicycles smoother. Well-set subsidies could also steer people to buying high-quality e-bikes.

Financial incentives could significantly impact the switch the people would willingly take towards creating a sustainable environment and further the goal of achieving Net Zero by the government. 

Problems with regulation

Currently e-bikes are facing backlash, as there are incidents of over-speeding being reported from across Australia. There is an increase in illegal e-bikes. It can be hard to identify which bike is legal, that is works under 25 km/h and which are illegal just from their appearance.

Each Australian state today is dealing with the issue of e-bikes differently. This is because of the lack of uniform regulations around procurement and use of e-bikes. The variety of laws around handling it create a problem for all people in Australia. 

A singular law across Australia could make it easier for both the government, the street-level bureaucrats and the people to understand the terms and conditions that come with owning an e-bike.  

Manage imports better

While the Australian Border Force effectively regulates to ensure that low quality illegal goods are not imported, illegal e-bikes can enter the country if a person self-declares them. This has created a different market within Australia which is growing and poses a significant threat to the people on streets and the vision of a safer Australia.

It would be much better if imports of e-bikes and other e-mobility devices were controlled properly.

Create a safer environment

The collective understanding around biking law and safety also plays a significant role in improving safety. Today each state in Australia has a different penalty for -bike misconduct. In some territories an individual is expected to pay less and get away with breaking the rules, in others the penalty is too high leading towards a disdain in using e-bike altogether – or the police becoming reluctant to enforce the rules.

Consistent policy and law would help the police and the judges provide a viable penalty when a cyclist breaks the law.  

Of course, the biggest impediment to the uptake of e-bikes is the lack of safe, separated bike lanes. This is why Bicycle NSW is aligning with other advocacy groups to ask the next government to spend a lot more on active transport infrastructure! 

I really hope the new Australian Government will pull out all the stops to support the uptake of safe and compliant e-bikes.  

   Yours faithfully,

   Ananya Sharma
   Bicycle NSW election campaign volunteer and Master of Public policy student