Locals and visitors can now enjoy a new way to move around the City of Stonnington following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with ride share provider Lime for a 12-month trial of electric share bikes.
From mid-February, a fleet of 150 Lime e-bikes rolled out across the city. To rent and ride an e-bike, users simply need to download the Lime or Uber apps to find e-bikes nearby and scan to ride.
The introduction of e-bikes to Stonnington expands the ride sharing service beyond the cities of Melbourne, Yarra and Port Phillip where the initial e-bike trial in 2020 has been extended for a further 12 months.
Throughout the 12-month trial, Lime will work to ensure residents and visitors are aware of proper safety measures and parking protocols.
Riding an e-bike attracts the same road rules applied to all bike riders, to wear a helmet at all times, ride safely and respect the bikes and other road users.
City of Stonnington Mayor, Cr Jami Klisaris said: "We’re delighted to partner with Lime to offer residents and visitors a fun and healthy way to get out and enjoy everything Stonnington has to offer.
"I’m looking forward to seeing lots of people enjoy the freedom of hopping on an e-bike to meet a friend for coffee, commute to work or take a quick trip to the shops without the hassle of getting caught in traffic or having to find parking.
'We’ll also work with Lime and our community to make sure people are aware of how and where to park their bikes after using them."
Hugo Burt-Morris, General Manager Australia and New Zealand, Lime said: "We take great pride in providing Melbourne with safe, affordable, and sustainable ways of getting around and we are thrilled to be expanding to the City of Stonnington this summer.
"As the community makes their way back into the office and around Melbourne, we want to be sure residents and visitors are able to experience Stonnington and beyond without the use of a private car.
"We look forward to working with the City and with our local partners to encourage sustainable transportation and support local businesses and the economic recovery across all of Melbourne."