As we fight about light rail, e-bikes may be the missing link in our fight for better transport. But we must slow down our streets to set cyclists free. Read how e-bikes solve a lot of problems.
One of the easiest ways for everyday people to benefit is through rebates on electric bicycles, or e-bikes. E-bikes are becoming a common sight on bike paths, but because of the cost they’re not as common in low-income neighborhoods. The new rebates aim to lower that barrier.
While we’re all busy battling for and against light rail, arguing about heavy rail, questioning trackless trams and examining the role of electric buses, we seem to have forgotten about the good old bicycle.
Well, maybe not the ‘old’ pushie, more the new-fangled e-bike … the ones that cost a fraction of a car, cause a fraction of the pollution, but can get you to work in a fraction of the time since you don’t have to battle traffic.
Admittedly, there has been pushback against the e-pushbike, with the sharp rise in electric scooters and bikes causing controversy on Queensland roads and footpaths in recent years.
Just last month it was reported Gold Coast councillors wanted licences to be introduced due to concerns about speeding on beachfront pathways in tourism hubs.
To be honest, that makes sense. Especially if we want to see e-bikes really push forward as an alternative to the second car.
Starting this week, Lime is launching new Gen4 e-bikes on the Gold Coast. Picture: supplied
Because while this city seems the perfect playground for the e-pushie given our fantastic weather and mostly flat topography, there’s just one factor missing that would make it the transport mode of choice: safety.
There’s a reason e-bikes are riding on the Oceanway and footpaths (other than sheer stupidity, although that probably plays a part too), it’s because our roads are too risky.
But rather than build an entirely new network of bike paths, the solution is right in front of us, says Matthew Burke, Professor in the Cities Research Institute at Griffith University.
“We don’t need to build new bike paths – there’s not much room anyway – we just need to slow down our suburban streets.
“If we bring speed limits down to 30km per hour, the cyclists will come out.
“Because our default speed limit in quiet neighbourhood streets is 50km, we have what is called a high-stress cycling network. There are too many cars travelling too fast, overtaking and intercepting cyclists.
“If we bring it down to 30km, it might add a minute or two to travel time, but not much … most of us only use these streets to get to the collector roads, the arterial roads, the 60km and up roads.
“The cost to drivers would be minimal, but the benefits to cyclists and pedestrians would be immense.”
The footpath at Narrowneck on the Gold Coast. Electrified scooters and bikes on the footpath. Picture: Tertius Pickard
Prof Burke says other countries have already proved how successful this strategy can be, but Australia won’t budge.
As a result, he says Queensland has one of the lowest rates of bike use in the world.
Indeed, while e-bike sales in Australia increased to 75,000 in 2021-22, it’s still a fraction (about a fifteenth) of the number of cars sold in Australia each year and how many e-bikes are sold in Europe.
“For a decade, I’ve been calling for suburban streets to be slowed down. It’s happened in Europe, it’s happening in the UK, and parts of the USA are starting to follow suit,” he says.
“The speed limit for most of London now is 20mph, and that’s increased the modal share of bikes to 10 per cent, that is 10 per cent of all trips are via bicycle. Whereas here in Queensland, the modal share of bikes is less than one per cent – that’s one of the lowest rates in the world.
“Our collector roads can stay at 50kmh, but the rest – about 70 per cent of suburban streets – should drop to 30kmh.
“But we haven’t even been able to get it moved down to 40kmh, which is still too fast anyway.”
Meanwhile, cycling advocacy groups are not only calling for safer roads, but rebates for e-bike riders.
The footpath at Narrowneck on the Gold Coast. Electrified scooters and bikes are making it more and more difficult for pedestrians to walk on the footpath. Picture: Tertius Pickard
Bicycle Queensland recently put forward the idea of a $1000 rebate on e-bikes, with a further $500 rebate if the e-bike owner also reduced the number of cars registered in Queensland.
Prof Burke says the advantages of adopting greater e-bike usage are immense, for both the community and individual, and commended the City of Gold Coast’s adoption of the Lime e-bike share scheme.
“I know quite a few people have tried a Lime bike and then decided to go buy their own. I have two. You can get a great bike for under $1000,” he says.
“They’re fantastic. In the heat, you can arrive at work and not need a shower, you’re fresh and ready to go. Or you can park right out the front of your favourite cafe, or at the beach you don’t have to battle for a parking space, you can take it on the heavy rail or lock it up at a light rail station. It’s a game changer.
“It’s never going to replace the family car, but it’s an excellent option to replace the second car – as long as you feel safe enough to ride it around town.”