PEDAL-assisted bikes for public use have been introduced in Frankston.
As part of a one year trial, 150 “e-bikes” from Neuron Mobility have been brought into Frankston.
Neuron Mobility head of Australia and New Zealand Richard Hannah said that Frankston made an ideal location for a trial of the initiative. “The Frankston landscape provides a superb environment for pedal-assisted e-bikes, with its numerous bike trails, stunning foreshore scenery and numerous parks and open spaces,” he said.
“Our pedal-assisted e-bike program is very different from previous bike sharing schemes. We have operations teams working around the clock changing batteries, safety checking, cleaning the e-bikes and moving them to where they are needed most. We also use GPS technology to control where the e-bikes go and to ensure they are parked responsibly.”
The bike limits speed in different areas, and will shut off if the rider travels outside of a designated zone in Frankston. The motor assists the rider to reach a speed of 25kmph.
The bikes can be booked through the Neuron app at a cost of $1, then 45 cents per minute of use.
30 parking stations have been set up across Frankston.
Frankston mayor Nathan Conroy said the trial would “create around 15 jobs locally and could be expanded depending on demand. If the community loves the program it will help inform and influence decision making regarding bike paths and cycle lanes in the future.”
“The pedal-assisted e-bikes offer a safe, convenient and socially-distanced way to travel for residents and visitors, connecting people and places more easily and in a more sustainable way than motorised vehicles,” he said.
