Thousands of e-bike riders could be deprived of their rights to take their bikes on trains following moves by state governments to outlaw e-bikes and e-scooters from trains because of the risk of battery fires.
Such a ban would result in a major disruption to the day-to-day lives of many Australians.
E-bikes have rapidly increased in popularity in recent years and now comprise a fundamental part of our transport mix.
They are used daily in conjunction with train travel to get children to school, parents to work, grandparents out on healthy midweek social rides and to get a wide spectrum of people into regional Australia to tour along trails, injecting vital dollars into local economies.
Now all this is under threat as governments move to head off the risks of train fires caused by lithium ion batteries overheating and catching alight.
Although there have already been such instances in Australian and overseas cities, so far, they are rare. The consequences, however, are not to be brushed aside, and a burning bike battery in a peak hour train, especially when travelling through a tunnel, could have a devastating impact.
Following in the wake of bans in London and New York, Victoria and New South Wales – both with new rail tunnel networks underway – have moved to follow suit.
The ban proposals have landed in a policy environment where the regulation of e-bike safety standards and the enforcement of rules for importation and point of sale have fallen apart.
Many of the riders who will be worst affected by these bans have high-quality, standards-compliant bikes made and serviced by reputable brands and stores. A thermal runaway fire in one of these bikes is unheard of.
However, there are tens of thousands of e-bikes and e-bike kits entering the country each year that are substandard, illegally modified, poorly maintained and often used with non-matching chargers.
Firefighting agencies are reporting a major spike in fires involving such bikes in homes, in the streets and now in trains.
In Victoria, the proposed ban is one of a number of several proposed new public transport regulations that been released for public comment.
We urge riders to fill in the survey and make submissions to explain how these new rules will make life hard for riders.
“This proposed ban will have a serious negative impact on the many people who take an e-bike on a train as part of their commute to work or university,” Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack said.
"It will also be very disruptive to the many recreational and touring bike riders who use trains to get to trails around Melbourne and regional Victoria.
“We certainly appreciate the risks that a battery fire on a train poses to the public, and we understand the motivation of Australian states that are moving towards an e-bike ban to eliminate this risk.
"It would be unfortunate if such a ban were adopted, but if it is, it should be temporary while state and federal governments quickly move towards re-establishing proper Australian standards for e-bikes that keep sub-standard e-bikes and batteries out of the country.
"Proper regulation of e-bikes and batteries will fix the underlying problem, and we can welcome e-bikes back on trains again."
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