PWDA Submission to E-Micromobility Sharing Schemes Reform
April 2026
PWDA welcomed the opportunity to provide feedback on the NSW Government's E-micromobility sharing schemes reform.
Note: In this submission *E-micromobility is referencing shared e-bike and e-scooter programs.
Micromobility has the potential to improve transport amenity for its users and safety for everyone by reducing car trips. Car drivers colliding with pedestrians are the most common cause of injury and death, and NSW has the highest rates of fatality. We support measures that reduce the number of car journeys, provided they are enacted in ways that keep pedestrians and people with disability safe.
We are pleased to see that some of the elements people with disability have been calling for are mentioned in the New Approach to Sharing Scheme Reforms Summary Paper – including planning for safe parking and rider education, but more needs to be done.
It has been nearly 9 years since the first share bike schemes came to NSW in July 2017. Whilst the switch from 'standard' to electric share bikes reduced the numbers of dumped bicycles at the bottom of hills, many issues that have been raised consistently by people with disability since then have not been addressed.
This includes the obstruction of footpaths by parked or toppled devices, footpath riding and rider behavior that endangers people with disability.
Recommendations
- Recommendation 1 - prohibit 'free floating parking zones' for shared e-mobility
- Recommendation 2 - prohibit footpath parking in most areas for shared e-mobility
- Recommendation 3 - set clear standards for where shared mobility devices can be parked including distance from curb ramps, intersections, bus stops, doorways, and require operators to prove compliance
- Recommendation 4 - parking recommendations should always prioritise taking space away from car drivers rather than parking shared mobility devices on the footpath
- Recommendation 5 - redesign parking bays to reduce the chance of shared mobility devices toppling and obstructing pedestrians
- Recommendation 6 - build safe separated bicycle infrastructure urgently, and require micromobility users to use it instead of footpaths
- Recommendation 7 - do not allow footpath riding for shared e-scooters
