People with e-bikes losing access to public transport

Faith and Val are joined in the studio today by Elliot Fishman of the Institute for Sensible Transport to discuss the Victorian State Government's proposed ban on people travelling with e-bikes on trains. We share our bike moments and our first ever sponsorship by Bicycle Network.We discuss the policy and data vacumn within which this decision is being made, the ensuing lack of impact assesment and the ongoing failure of the State Government when it comes to this important part of the transport system. Despite calls from Coroner Audrey Jamison seven years ago for the better regulation of e-bikes little has been done, even after the Morrison government made the importation of more dangerous non-compliant bikes easier in 2021. While the  ban seeks to address the issue of battery fires on trains, especially in tunnels, the ban is imposed on e-bikes whose batteries have never been associated with these fires. The ban will impact people accessing work, addressing shortfalls in the PT system, dangerous gaps in the cycling network, the elderley, disabled and more. We discuss the likely outcomes of the ban; people on safe e-bikes not being able to access work or recreational opportunities and other services, people buying more powerful e-bikes to make the journey previously done by train, and vulnerable workers and other usesr being exposed to fines and harassment.With no timeframe established for the ban, and even less urgancy once it is in place,  there is little hope it will ever be revoked. You can take part in the survey or make a submission here. Write to The Hon. Gabrielle Williams, Transport Minister using the details here and also write or call your local MP.