In an effort to curb the scourge of abandoned e-bikes littering the streets, City of Sydney council is introducing designated parking bays.
Haymarket near Chinatown in the CBD will be the first location to be trialled. The scheme will then expand to Potts Point, Paddington and Chippendale. Close to transport links and businesses, the locations were previously no stopping zones.
“Share bikes have the potential to play an important role in our transport mix, and data shows they’re incredibly popular,” said Sydney Mayor Clover Moore. “But we know the way they’re currently parked can cause clutter and frustration and pose a safety risk for people walking.”
GPS technology will be used by the e-bike operators to check the vehicles have been parked in their designated bay, the location of which will be clearly marked on the operators’ apps.
Abandoned e-bikes have become as ubiquitous as shopping trolleys. Not only do they blight the streetscape, but they also cause headaches for pedestrians – especially those with mobility issues.
“People walking are sometimes impacted when share bikes aren’t parked properly and the new facility will play a key role in addressing the issue,” Moore said. “Bike use shouldn’t come at the expense of safe and comfortable footpaths,” she added.
Danny Gorog is CEO and founder of Snap, Send, Solve – an app that enables people to notify the authorities about urban nuisances such as abandoned e-bikes and the like. “The rapid rise of e-bikes and e-scooters brings significant challenges to public safety and infrastructure,” Gorog told GN.
Indeed, in 2024, the Snap Send Solve app recorded 6,931 reports related to e-mobility issues. In just the first two months of 2025, its users have made 1,481 reports. “An indication that the problem continues to grow,” Gorog said. In NSW, 2,367 reports were logged last year. Nationally, Victoria recorded the highest number of complaints, with 2,797 in 2024.
“A significant portion of these reports concern the illegal and unsafe parking of e-bikes and e-scooters on footpaths, creating hazards for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike,” Gorog said.
As more cities embrace e-mobility, local councils and operators must implement better management strategies to address these challenges, he added. “Whether through designated parking zones, improved enforcement, or real-time response systems.”
With discussions on e-mobility reform intensifying, particularly in NSW, Gorog said now is the time to spotlight these issues and explore technology-driven solutions. “The Snap Send Solve app provides a convenient channel for the public to report issues to relevant authorities, helping to enable efficient issue resolution. By leveraging real-time data, councils and organisations can better allocate resources, identify high-risk areas, and collaborate with operators to implement solutions that keep streets safe while supporting the benefits of sustainable transport.”
To tackle the problem of abandoned e-bikes, Moore said the City will continue to advocate to the state government to implement consistent share bike regulation across all Sydney councils – including a cap on the number of operators and a limit on the number of bikes deployed. “While we’re waiting on that regulation, the City will continue to do what it can to improve the conditions for people walking and riding in our local area.”
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