Waverley Council signs historic MoU with Share Bike Operator

Waverley Council has achieved a milestone win for the community, signing an historic Council-led agreement with sharebike provider, Lime.  Council and Lime have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lime agreeing to take clear action to better manage and regulate their share bikes, contribute to the provision of parking infrastructure and establishing parameters on how and where bikes can be ridden and parked. Shared e-bikes ridden dangerously and dumped on footpaths have become a safety issue within the Waverley Local Government Area (LGA). Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh said “enough is enough” and has taken the action that he promised.

Mayor Nemesh said, “We have taken urgent action because our community has had a gut full of e-bikes being carelessly dumped all over the place. This agreement is about ensuring there is a clearly defined framework of accountability and transparency for share bike operators.”

“I congratulate Lime for demonstrating their commitment to working with Council and ensure public safety and public amenity comes first.”

The agreement sets a maximum number of Lime bikes at any one point in time within Waverley LGA. The agreement provides for designated parking locations and restricted parking zones. Parked e-bikes deemed to be obstructing public access must be relocated within three hours of it being identified otherwise Council may impound the e-bike and issue a fine to the operator.

The agreement is intended to commence on 30 June 2025 for a period of 24 months, starting with a six-month trial period that uses designated areas on footpaths and potential on-street spaces. Lime will be contributing towards the cost of the new infrastructure.

The maximum speed at which Lime’s e-bikes can operate under electric power will be set at 25 km/h, in line with state legislation but this may be restricted ats certain location within the LGA.

Lime has agreed to implement geofencing technology to define no-go zones where bikes cannot be operated or parked, including environmentally sensitive areas and pedestrian malls.

In March, Mayor Will Nemesh called on share bike providers to agree to clear action and parameters on how and where bikes can be ridden and parked and called on the State Government to better regulate e- share bike schemes.

William Peters, Regional Director - APAC, Lime said "Lime is proud to lead with Waverley Council on New South Wales’ first shared e-bike agreement. This partnership is built around a dedicated parking approach that puts community needs first. This is a landmark moment that positions Sydney alongside other global cities like London and Paris, where micromobility is an integral part of the transport system. 

“We commend Mayor Nemesh and Waverley Council for their forward-thinking approach that balances innovation with the needs of the community. Lime will work closely with Council to roll out parking infrastructure, enhance compliance, and give residents, businesses, and visitors more transport options” 

Share bike trips in Waverley increased 350% between 2021 and 2024, greatly increasing the risk of injury.

While share bikes are a State Government policy area, Councils do have capacity to act on “unattended property” under State Government Guidelines.