Our proposed trial would see us bring e-bike share to Merri-bek in phases, rolling them out across 5 different operating zones.

This phased approach is designed to allow us to monitor and evaluate the trial, and respond to any issues that come up before expanding the trial or committing to a permanent change.

At this stage, details have been developed for the first phase of the trial which will take place in the south of Merri-bek.

We are planning for approximately 150 to 250 e-bikes to be made available within this first operating area.

In order to maximise safety for road users and minimise the impacts of the trial, shared e-bike parking bays would be designated across the operating zones.

During the trial, shared e-bikes must be parked in one of these designated parking bays when users are finished with their ride.

These parking bays may be located either on road or on the footpath, depending on the space available and appropriate locations.

We will also be determining 'slow' or 'no-go' areas. These will be areas where the shared bikes will be required to travel at a reduced speed limit, or not allowed to ride.

Parking bay locations and slow or no-go areas will be selected based on community feedback and technical analysis.

Our initial proposals for where these parking bays may be located are noted on the map on this page.

Merri-bek's vision for a shared electric bike trial is divided in 5 phased areas.

The Phase 1 area is located in the south of Merri-bek, and effectively extends the current operating zones for shared electric bikes within our bordering councils of the City of Melbourne and City of Yarra.

Phase 1 would run for a minimum of 12 months.

Phases 2 and 3 would then be intended to roll out over the 24 months following our completion and evaluation of Phase 1.

There are no current time frames in place for phases 4 and 5.