NSW Government Announces Scheme to Reduce E-Bike Clutter on Footpaths

The NSW Government has unveiled a $6.6 million funding program for e-bike parking. Lane Cove Council could receive up to $200,000 to deliver e-bike parking and to improve rider behaviour.

The  NSW Government announced a Sharing Scheme Grant Programme with the aim of assisting councils to set “no go” and “go slow” zones in their LGA.

Despite the funding announcement, the framework that would actually give councils the power to approve operators, set “go-slow” and “no-go” zones, and penalise non-compliant operators remains in still in draft form.

Once finalised, the new rules will allow Transport for NSW to revoke an operator’s approval for failing to meet minimum standards, and issue penalties of up to $55,000 — plus $5,500 for each day a removal order is ignored.  However, the council will need rangers on the ground issuing removal orders.  The government did not give a timeline for when the regulations will be released.

How will the regulations be enforced at the local council level?  The Lane Cove Village has a no smoking policy, but you regularly see smokers in the village.  Unless significant resources are given to councils for enforcement, the status quo will remain.

Defined parking bays may assist some riders from leaving bikes on paths, but if it is like shopping trolleys, they are usually left where it is convenient for the user, not the general public

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“NSW has embraced e-bikes and shared e-bikes, which is a good thing, but we are not willing to stand around and let the wild west scenes we inherited go on any longer.

“Pedestrians have been crying out for order and for their footpaths back – we’ve heard them and we’re responding with nation-leading rules and backing it with an industry-funded grant program to end the conflict.

“We already know properly marked parking bays reduce kicked over bikes and blocked footpaths by half and now we want the 16 councils to provide them in the areas of most conflict and complaint.

Parking Bay Around Transport Hubs

Separately, Transport for NSW is accelerating its own rollout of parking bays around transport hubs and stations, aiming to deliver 250 bays for 2,500 shared e-bikes this year.

Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said 62 of those bays are already in delivery.

The government points to its own trials showing properly marked parking bays have cut kicked-over bikes and blocked footpaths by half.

The photo below shows bikes near the Crows Nest Metro.

The NSW Government says there are 16 local council areas currently hosting shared e-bike schemes, including the City of Sydney, Inner West, North Sydney, Canterbury-Bankstown, Burwood and Parramatta. Lane Cove was not specifically named in the media release announcing the funding despite Lime having already rolled out bikes in the LGA and presented its expansion plans to Lane Cove Council.

A spokesperson for Transport for NSW told ITC:

“Lane Cove Council is one of the 16 LGAs registered with this scheme, and parking bay delivery is in pre-planning for deployment.

All councils that have e-bikes operating in their area or are likely to in the near future can access the grant program.”

A Lane Cove Council spokesperson told ITC:

“I can confirm that Lime Bikes are currently operating in the Lane Cove local government area. All bikes presently in the LGA have been ridden into the area by customers travelling from North Sydney, but we believe our LGA is one of the 16 they have cited.

Lime Bikes has advised that it intends to increase its service presence in Lane Cove in the coming weeks by deploying additional bikes to the area. Council staff have been in discussions with Lime Bikes about the establishment of ‘no-go’ and ‘slow go’ zones in the Lane Cove Village and broader LGA and dedicated parking areas within the Lane Cove Village to address community and safety concerns about bike clutter.

Lane Cove Council welcomes the NSW Government’s announcement of funding to local councils to deliver e-bike parking and improve ride behaviour. “

Council Resolution Acknowledging Growing E-Bike Use and Dumping

On 18 June 2026, the Lane Cove Council acknowledged the growing e-bike and personal mobility device use in the Lane Cove and community concerns about safety and compliance, and Council resolved to:

• Write to the Ministers for Roads, Transport, and Youth, pushing for better safety education campaigns, stronger enforcement against illegal e-bikes and unsafe riding, additional safety measures, support for council-led education, and a bigger cut of share-bike scheme revenue to fund local infrastructure (geofenced parking, separated cycleways).
• Ask staff to develop content across social media, the website, newsletters, and other channels, covering legal requirements, safe riding, and shared path etiquette, working with the Road Safety Team and engaging schools and community groups.
•  Hold pop-up info stalls at events, staffed by Councillors and Council staff.
• Target young locals specifically by working with Synergy Youth Centre and other youth organisations, on e-bike safety, road rules, and responsible riding.

Until New Regulations Are Finalised ………

At the moment, councils cannot direct or restrict Lime’s operations in an area and have limited say over how Lime operates.  This should change when the regulations are finalised.

Let us know what you think

In the meantime, if you spot a Lime bike causing a problem anywhere in Sydney, contact Lime directly on 1800 861 305 or [email protected].

If you have thoughts on whether Lime bikes would be welcome in Lane Cove, feel free to send us a comment on whatsapp or leave on our Facebook or Instagram page.