The e-bikes can be ridden for 60 kilometres on just a single charge. Photos: Supplied.
Residents of the West Belconnen suburb of Strathnairn will be among the first Canberrans to take part in an electric-bike share scheme after Ginninderry launched its new e-bike fleet on Monday morning (23 September).
Partnering with Newcastle-based electric-bike share company BYKKO, Ginninderry will run the scheme from its information centre The Link, with four bikes and a docking station.
The bikes, which can reach a maximum speed of 25 kilometres per hour, can be ridden for 60 kilometres between charges. Unlike dockless bike-share schemes, the bikes must be returned to the charging station after use.
The scheme will allow riders to use the bikes for free for the first two hours, with a $10 per hour fee after that.
Ginninderry’s sustainability manager Jessica Stewart said she was confident residents in the suburb of Strathnairn would embrace the bike-sharing service. As the development grows, the number of bikes and charging stations will increase.
“We are proud to be pioneering the use of e-bikes in the context of suburban development,” Ms Stewart said. “E-bikes make cycling accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels, and we’re confident that we’ll see residents making full use of the service while reducing their dependency on cars.
“Ginninderry’s vision is to create a sustainable community and our new electric bike fleet is part of this vision.”
Ms Stewart said the installation of e-bike sharing underpins Ginninderry’s position as the only ‘six green stars’ rated development in the region.
“Sustainable transport options have been integrated into the master planning of Ginninderry from the very beginning,” she said.
“Public transport, bike and pedestrian movement are the highest priorities, with bike paths designed on and off road.”
Yvette Berry tries out a BYKKO e-bike.
Minister for Housing and Suburban Development Yvette Berry said the addition of e-bike sharing at Ginninderry is another example of how the ACT is leading the nation on sustainability.
Ms Berry said the ACT Government will consider rolling out bike-sharing systems in more Canberra suburbs if Ginninderry’s scheme is successful.
“We will go with what we have got to start with and then we can grow as this part of West Belconnen grows,” Ms Berry said. “We want to make sure that we have new and innovative ways for people to use transport that isn’t just a car.
“Electric bikes are a great way to do that but we also need to make sure that the infrastructure is there to be able to support that.”
BYKKO’s founder and managing director Monica Zarafu said she was excited to play a part in driving the uptake of e-bike sharing in the suburban development.
“We were proud to launch Australia’s first smart electric bike-sharing service at a residential building in Canberra’s CBD earlier this year, and the launch of the service in a suburban development really demonstrates how smart integrated transport options are being embraced.”
BYKKO said its technology in Ginninderry includes a bike share station using real-time GPS analytics to manage demand, optimise capacity and enable better customer outcomes.
Sign up to Ginninderry’s electric-bike sharing scheme at Bykko.
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