Sydney Councils Yet To Take Up Grants To Fix Obstructive E-Bike Parking

Despite the NSW Government offering councils grants of up to $200,000 to improve parking arrangements for e-bikes to avoid them being discarded on public walkways, Transport for NSW says they have not received any applications under the program.

The $6.6 million Sharing Scheme Grant Program aims to provide funding for councils to develop designated parking areas, which includes signage and maintenance costs. As shared e-bikes have grown in popularity, bikes left scattered across footpaths and driveways has become a hazard for pedestrians.

So why has no one applied for the grants?

Why aren’t councils applying for funding?

The City of Sydney Council said the application process is too resource intensive to keep up with its current investment in share bike parking infrastructure.

As of July 2026, it had installed 85 on-road bays and 166 on footpaths, with another 300 planned by mid 2028. Depending on its size, each bay holds between four and 25 bikes.

A City of Sydney spokesperson said the council had already spent more than $400,000 on share bike parking bays, and the current grant application requirements would require staff to prepare a new application every month at its existing rate of spending.

“We would have to take staff off the planning and delivery of parking bays to complete these labour-intensive applications,” the spokesperson said.

The City of Sydney is working with Transport for NSW to amend the grant conditions to allow councils to submit one application each year and remove the current $200,000 funding cap.

It plans to apply in March 2027 and expects to have spent approximately $1.3 million on share bike infrastructure by then.

The spokesperson said the grant process had not delayed the council’s infrastructure rollout, with 300 share bike parking areas on track for delivery by December.

Transport for NSW said it was supporting councils through a weekly forum to provide support and updates, and is releasing a range of information resources to help implement the new framework.

Who is responsible for poorly parked e-bikes?

The NSW Government introduced a statewide framework for shared e-bike schemes on 14 August, requiring operators to receive approval from Transport for NSW and authorisation from individual councils or relevant authorities before providing services.

Under the framework, operators are required to ensure their bikes do not obstruct footpaths, pedestrian crossings, public transport stops, taxi zones or fire exits.

Councils also gained greater control over where shared e-bikes can operate, along with the ability to develop designated parking areas and restrictions on parking.

Companies that fail to meet their obligations, including Sydney’s prime operators Lime, Ario and Hello, face penalties of up to $55,000, with an additional $5,500 for each day of ongoing non-compliance.

Operators must also meet statewide requirements covering insurance, helmets, device safety and identification while providing data on trips, incidents and complaints.

The framework is being introduced in stages, with some compliance and enforcement provisions scheduled to commence in summer 2027.