Will e-bikes and e-scooters be banned from NSW trains? Photo: @maxbelchenko, Envato.
A NSW Government snafu has raised the alarm for some Wollongong residents.
A sign at a Sydney train station asked riders to please not bring e-bikes or e-scooters on board.
It’s understood the sign was mistakenly put up ahead of time, as the NSW Government calls on the Federal Government to tighten import regulations on devices using lithium-ion batteries.
The batteries have caused a spate of fires over the past several years, and the State Government is concerned about safety risks from dodgy imports.
Wollongong City Councillor Jess Whittaker urged the council to oppose the ban in a last-minute motion raised at the most recent council meeting.
“A change this big to transport rules needs more explanation,” she said.
“By allowing substandard products into the country the State Government now proposes to punish all e-mobility users.
“This will disadvantage young people, delivery drivers, those with disability.
“For regions like Wollongong with steep geography that has increasingly adopted multimodal transport solutions to connect people with trains it’s a significant blow.”
Cr Whittaker said there had never been a battery fire on a NSW train, and most fires occurred while charging.
“Imagine if we had the same risk appetite for cars – there is a death on our roads every day,” she said.
“There are more targeted ways we can manage that risk.”
Councillor Richard Martin, however, defended the push.
He said it was irresponsible to ignore the risks.
“Fire and Rescue NSW says battery related fires are the largest cause of fires in the state,” he said.
“There were 323 last year, the year before 272, the year before that 165.
“It’s not if there is one on a train but when.
“What would happen in the middle of the national park, with no reception, pushing a button trying to get the driver to stop and no way out?”
Councillor Linda Campbell said she thought the council would be jumping the gun to get involved, and the issue of how e-mobility devices integrated with the public transport network needed to be part of a broader framework of regulations around the technology.
That legislation is the responsibility of the NSW and Australian governments.
“I think we need to stay on our own track,” Cr Campbell said.
Never one to be outshone in the pun department, Councillor David Brown argued for a middle ground.
“Let’s see if I can derail this debate,” he said.
“I put an amendment that the council write to the NSW Government seeking clarification on this issue, and urge both NSW and Commonwealth governments to come to a swift resolution on e-bikes and similar transport devices.
“The real issue is the State Government is having a barney with the feds over the importation of devices that may be unsafe.
“[At the same time] the ability for a modal transport shift from bikes to trains seems like a good idea.
“I think we should clarify what is going on.”
The amended motion was carried unanimously.
