Council crack down on share bike problems

Waverley residents on a daily basis are navigating shared bikes carelessly strewn across footpaths and ridden at dangerous speeds, risking injury and causing fear to pedestrians. Waverley Council is demanding an end to these unsafe practices and lack of regulation, approving a motion to put in place a Memorandum of Understanding between Council and bike operators for urgent action on the issue.

Share bike trips in Waverley increased 350% between 2021 and 2024, which has exacerbated the problems faced by residents. While share bikes are a State Government responsibility, Councils have the capacity to act on “unattended property” under State Government Guidelines.

Waverley Mayor Cr Will Nemesh said "We are continuously receiving complaints from the community about shared bikes carelessly left on footpaths or ridden at dangerous speeds. Enough is enough.

“This is why I am proposing the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with bike share providers, requiring operators to take more responsibility for how shared bikes are used and where they are stored.

“Although, this is a State Government policy area, I have made it clear to the operators that if an agreement with Council cannot be reached within one month, I will take swift and immediate action. Shared micromobility is the way of the future but we must first get the framework set up correctly and ensure community safety comes first".

The proposed MoU will cover the maximum number of bikes permitted, parking, geofencing and bike speeds.  It will require operators to cover costs of implementing the MoU, including infrastructure and enforcement.

The Council motion also includes a six-month bike share parking trial, starting June 2025, using designated parking areas on footpaths and on-street (where appropriate), focusing on high-traffic areas like Bondi Junction, Bondi Beach and Bronte Beach.

Mayor Nemesh said a comprehensive solution requires both local and State Government action.

“We urge the NSW Government to implement a state-run tender process for bike share services with clear operational controls,” he said. “We would recommend that a portion of the generated revenue be allocated to local councils for infrastructure and enforcement to allow us to make a difference on the ground.”