Preston electorate
Nathan LAMBERT (Preston) (14:45): (1273) My question is to the Minister for Public and Active Transport, and my question is: what steps will the minister take to ensure the safe regulation of e-bikes following the proposal to temporarily ban their use on trains due to the safety risks posed by large-capacity lithium ion batteries? I think e-bikes and indeed e-scooters are vital to the future of our state and city and particularly areas like Preston and Reservoir. They extend what might be traditional bike trips or walking trips, they of course enhance the benefits of public transport and they allow suburban and neighbourhood activity centres to serve a larger group of people, and they do all of that in a way that is more efficient than cars because of their smaller mass. They reduce congestion, they reduce parking pressure and they link better to public transport. They have of course the active transport mental health benefits of getting out in the open air, and they are more energy-efficient and more emissions-efficient. We recognise the very significant safety concerns that do exist, and we thank the minister for her work to resolve those safety concerns so we can have the benefits of e-bikes and e-scooters safely.