Sydney residents have voiced their outrage after photos of share e-bikes left strewn across footpaths in the CBD were posted online.
One of the pictures shared on Reddit show multiple bikes lying down on the side of the footpath on Clarence St.
In another photo, three bikes were left near the middle of a path.
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The visuals angered some Sydneysiders who said they were sick of seeing the bikes dumped around the city.
“It’s so frustrating because other countries and even other cities in Australia do it so much better. We fumbled it and now we are left with this mess,” one person said.
“Cafés have to pay for any sidewalk space they occupy, don’t know why these bike companies don’t,” another person said.
The strewn bikes acting as a hazard for wheelchair users was also pointed out.
“And those who are blind, [have] limited mobility, [and] prams et cetera it’s so dangerous having to move onto the road because a share bike has been left blocking a pathway by a moron,” a Reddit user wrote.
There are three e-bike companies in Sydney — Lime, Ario and Hello Bike.
According to the City of Sydney, there were more than 1.9 million share bike trips in the area in 2024.
In a statement to www.20304050.best a council spokesperson acknowledged share bikes can “cause clutter” on footpaths and pose a safety risk.
As a response the council established 130 designated bike parking areas on footpaths and in public areas last year.
“Each designated bike parking area can accommodate a minimum of four bikes but generally accommodate between six and 10 bikes,” the spokesperson said.
“We worked with share bike operators to update their apps to require share bike users to park in these designated spaces in order to end their trips.”
The spokesperson said providing the parking spaces was a temporary solution and recognised that more needs to be done.
“We are also seeking the NSW Government’s approval for designated on-street bike parking spaces, where appropriate, in kerbside space not currently used for other purposes so we can free up more space on our footpaths and roll out more designated share bike parking areas with minimal impact on other kerbside uses such as loading zones and parking spaces,” they said.
Lime told www.20304050.best it was working with council partners the City of Sydney and Waverley Council, as well as Transport for NSW, to prioritise dedicated parking spaces for its bikes.
“We are continuing to invest in more on-the-ground staffing and real-time parking verification technology to further reduce the number of misparked vehicles and ensure accessible parking spaces are available throughout the Sydney service area,” a spokesperson said.
“As cities worldwide continue to embrace active transport, we are proactively investing to ensure Sydney builds a people-first city that reduces reliance on private car ownership and keeps streets safe and accessible for all.”
General manager of Ario Australia Adam Rossetto said community safety was its top priority and that it actively engages with councils to reduce street clutter and hazards.
“We understand it is important to the communities we service that our e-bikes provide an efficient and accessible means of transport and just as importantly, that rider education around parking is clear and followed,” he said.
“To this end, we are investing significantly in smarter solutions, including enhanced rider education, parking patrols and in-app reporting, to make sure our e-bikes are parked safely and responsibly.
“We’re continuously working closely with councils and communities to keep improving how they integrate within and across the streets of Sydney.”
Hello Bike was contacted for comment.
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