A six-month trial of a bicycle-sharing service is to begin in Canberra at the end of this month.
Acting Minister for Transport and City Services, Mick Gentleman said the trial would begin on 30 July and provide Canberrans and visitors with a new healthy, convenient and eco-friendly means of transportation.
Mr Gentleman said the trial had been set up in collaboration with the National Capital Authority (NCA) and The Australian National University (ANU) to allow coverage of the city centre, the ANU and the Parliamentary Zone.
“The Australian-owned bike-share provider Airbike will release a fleet of 200 dockless bikes across three weeks,” Mr Gentleman said.
“These bikes can be used for return or one-way trips without having to be returned to a docking station.”
He said Transport and City Services had followed how bike-share schemes operated in other jurisdictions.
“Airbike will monitor their fleet and take action if bikes are left in inappropriate or unsafe areas,” Mr Gentleman said.
“The team will immediately respond and move any bikes, reassuring Canberrans that the ACT Government, the NCA and the ANU have a well-regulated approach.”
He said as part of the trial, the ACT Government, NCA and ANU will closely monitor where bikes are parked to avoid some of the challenges faced in Melbourne and Sydney.
Mr Gentleman said cycling participation rates were significantly greater in Canberra than the national average, with around 103,000 people riding a bike in a typical week.
“People who work, learn and visit the Parliamentary Zone and the ANU can get better access to these national institutions,” the Minister said.
“Bike share can ease traffic congestion, parking issues, meet sustainability goals in these areas as well as providing a pleasant and timely way to move between our national institutions.”
