Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Electric bikes and scooters

Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (00:48): (1873) My adjournment this evening is to the Minister for Public and Active Transport. The action I seek is for you to stop the proposed ban on people taking e-bikes and e-scooters on public transport. There has been consultation on this proposed ban, and there has been a public outcry since it was announced. Large representative stakeholders, though, have put forward constructive alternatives. Bicycle Network warns that a ban would punish responsible riders and undermine sustainable transport, noting that there have been no known train fires from devices that meet recognised safety standards, with the incidents that have been reported linked to cheap and noncompliant batteries. They are instead calling for a standards-based approach. Bicycle community groups across Melbourne echo this. Boroondara Bicycle Users Group and Streets Alive Darebin warn a ban would push people back into cars and penalise thousands who rely on bike-plus-train trips. They are urging action on unsafe, substandard products, rather than on riders doing the right thing. Port Phillip BUG is collating submissions that describe the proposal as regulatory overkill that would exclude e-bike users from social rides and everyday trips that often combine both bikes and a train. The Public Transport Users Association has said a blanket ban is not the best way forward and that we should manage risk intelligently, not prevent people from combining train travel with last-mile bike riding. Media reports also have shown that there are concerns a ban will disadvantage vulnerable users unless we target unsafe devices and improve station facilities.

The actual solution here is product regulation and enforcement. We Ride Australia points to the need for a national action to control the importation of illegal e-bikes and to reinstate and enforce proven safety standards such as EN15194 for e-bikes and compliant battery systems. The ACCC has also highlighted the potential to manage lithium ion battery risks and the role of better product design, supply chain controls and compliance, making it clear this is a consumer product safety issue. Other jurisdictions are moving to mandatory standards and certification rather than these blanket access bans. Victoria should definitely lean in that direction, not away from it. Minister, please abandon plans for a blanket ban on e-bikes on trains. Work with the Commonwealth to enforce urgent product battery standards, targeted import controls, retailer obligations and penalties for noncompliance, and invest in practical risk management. Have secure bike parking at stations, clear charging rules, staff training and incident protocols so Victorians can keep safely combining bikes and train travel. Please do not curtail people’s ability to use e-bikes responsibly. Fix the products and solve the problem at its source.