A new on-street parking bay for share bikes in Haymarket will help reduce clutter on streets while supporting an increasingly popular mode of transport.
Located near Paddy’s Markets on Ultimo Road, the state-first parking bay can accommodate up to 14 bikes.
It is close to public transport and a range of destinations that generate share bike trips including education, business, shopping and food outlets, creating more room on congested roads.
“Share bikes have the potential to play an important role in our transport mix, but we know the way they’re currently parked can cause clutter and frustration and pose a safety risk for people walking,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said.
“Dedicated parking bays for share bikes shows how this active and practical way of getting around can work for everybody.
“People walking are sometimes impacted when share bikes aren’t parked properly, and the new facility will play a key role in addressing the issue. Bike use shouldn’t come at the expense of safe and comfortable footpaths.
“We continue to advocate the state government to step in and regulate share bikes across metropolitan Sydney to provide consistency for all councils, which is a key recommendation from the parliamentary inquiry into e-bikes.
“We want to see not only a cap on the number of operators, but also a limit on the number of bikes deployed. This would provide riders options to continue using share bikes while reducing clutter on our footpaths.
“While we’re waiting on that regulation, the City will continue to do what it can to improve the conditions for people walking and riding in our local area.”
New data from Ride Report shows that in 2024 there were nearly 2 million rides in the City of Sydney’s area. This is a huge increase from 2023 when there were more than 1 million rides.
More than 5,000 trips started or finished near the Haymarket parking bay last year, with a further 14,000 trips beginning on streets nearby in the same period.
Share bikes also help the night-time economy. Ride Report data indicates more than 20% of local trips last year happened between 8pm and midnight.
We will soon expand the trial with dedicated on-street parking bays approved for Potts Point, Paddington and Chippendale, all locations close to transport links and businesses.
Vehicles parking or loading in these streets won’t be impacted because these spaces had previously been designated as No Stopping.
Share bike companies will use their applications to encourage riders to park in these dedicated spaces and deploy bikes at these locations.
These on-street locations build on the 120 dedicated parking zones share bike companies have introduced in Circular Quay, Pyrmont, Ultimo, Chippendale and Forest Lodge.
The City of Sydney continues to communicate with share bike companies about how they can improve their operations and meet the expectations of local communities.
For media enquiries contact Andrew Booth: 0482 530 091 or email abooth@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Clover Moore AO, Lord Mayor of Sydney contact Paul Mackay. Phone 0436 816 604 or email pmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au