Thursday, 28 August 2025

 Kat THEOPHANOUS (Northcote) (14:47): (1275) My question is to the Minister for Public and Active Transport. What evaluation measures will the Department of Transport and Planning use in forming its advice on proposed restrictions for e-bikes and e-scooters on public transport? Consultation has just closed on regulations that would ban them on trains. DTP will now review submissions and prepare its advice. In Northcote many residents worry about the impact of a blanket ban. One 68-year-old told me that their e-bike is their gateway to freedom and that if they cannot take it on the train their world will shrink. Another, in their 70s, wrote that they bought their e-bike when they retired and that it has been invaluable when combined with train access. Labor is making record investments in public and active transport: Metro Tunnel, new trains and trams, level crossing removals, cycling paths, cheaper regional fares and free travel for young people and seniors. To harness these benefits the system must be seamless and accessible. Safety must come first. Noncompliant and modified devices should not be allowed, but there are fairer proportionate alternatives to a blanket ban, and I urge DTP to consider them carefully.