Electric-assisted bicycles and other micromobility devices have enormous potential to decarbonise our cities, improve urban amenity, reduce the burden of congestion, provide affordable transport for people of all ages and abilities, add incidental exercise into sedentary lives and put big smiles on our faces!
E-bikes are still overlooked in favour of electric cars, despite the much lower entry price and countless other benefits for the environment and public health. E-bikes use 1/40th the energy of electric vehicles, and only cost 15c to charge, using a regular power point.
We are working with all levels of government to develop sensible policy and legislations for e-bike batteries, amend road rules, and establish education programs across the state. We want e-mobility to reach its full potential while keeping riders and other road users safe.
Following detailed consultation with a range of industry, advocacy and council stakeholders, Bicycle NSW drafted a Position Statement on E-Bike Regulation to guide our advocacy. This work informed our detailed response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the use of e-scooters, e-bikes and related mobility options in August 2024. We made 24 recommendations to NSW Government. The overarching message? The #bikeboom must not be put back in the box. Changes to the regulatory framework must aim to expand the industry and enable more riders, of all ages, abilities and socio-economic backgrounds, to use micromobility on the road to Net Zero. Read our submission here.
Bicycle NSW also made a submission in collaboration with WeRide to the National EV Strategy, advocating for the explicit inclusion of e-bike, e-cargo bikes and emerging forms of micromobility.
It is essential that e-bikes are included in the in the discussion on vehicle subsidies. Subsiding e-bikes is much cheaper than subsidising EVs and a subsidised e-bike is affordable for far more people.
There are many schemes around the world that should provide inspiration for state and federal governments. There are over 300 tax-incentive and purchase-premium schemes for across the globe offered by national, regional and local authorities. In late 2023, Tasmania launched e-bike subsidies. Adelaide has now followed.
We will continue to campaign for economic incentives for mode shift in NSW.
