Information for sharing scheme authorities

Sharing schemes can provide a great transport option for local communities. They can:

• supplement and link people to public transport services
• provide an affordable option for people to reach shops and services
• support thriving visitor economies
• provide a new way to explore your suburbs.

You can invite approved operators to provide shared e-bike services in your area.

Operators may also identify areas where demand for shared e-bikes is likely. They can then apply to authorities for permission to operate. 

You can set local operating conditions for shared e-bike services in your area. Approved operators must comply with these conditions.  

When preparing operating conditions, consider designating:

• Mandatory parking zones in areas where parking demand is likely to be high, such as:
  • beaches
  • shopping areas
  • business districts
  • public transport hubs.
• Dedicated parking bays within mandatory parking zones.  
  • Use the Bike and Micromobility Parking Guidance (PDF 9MB) to help plan and design parking bays.
• No-go zones in areas where shared e-bike services are not appropriate, such as:
  • environmentally sensitive areas
  • places with high pedestrian activity.
  • Do not apply no-go zones to areas where private bikes can travel.
• Go-slow zones in areas where lower riding speeds may help reduce safety risks for riders and pedestrians, such as:
  • busy shared paths
  • areas near aged care and healthcare facilities
  • areas near childcare centres and playgrounds.

When setting operating conditions, engage with the community and relevant stakeholders. 

Learn more about: parking arrangements and managing fleet numbers.

Consulting other land managers

When setting operating conditions for shared e-bike services, consult other land managers in your area. This can include:

• private organisations
• Commonwealth land managers
• universities.

Land managers may have specific requirements for shared e-bike services. For example, they may wish to work with you to provide dedicated parking bays.

Where appropriate, these requirements and arrangements can be included in operating authorisations.

Delivering parking bays and setting conditions

Once you have identified your operating conditions, you will need to set these within the Shared Mobility Management Platform. Guidance and training on how to do this will be provided when you are onboarded.

This will ensure operators can apply geofencing and riders can see where they can and can’t ride and park.

Learn more about geofencing and managing parking.

Marked parking bays use line marking and other infrastructure to clearly show riders where they can park shared e-bikes.

• Support delivery of marked parking bays: Bike and Micromobility Parking Guidance (PDF 9MB).
• Apply for funding: Sharing Scheme Grant Program.

Authorisations allow authorities to set operating conditions for shared e-bike services, such as parking requirements and riding restrictions. Operators must comply with these conditions.

Transport will be working with authorities to develop sample clauses for authorisations in the coming weeks.

When an application has been lodged

When an operator applies for an authorisation, they must notify Transport for NSW. This allows Transport to support authorities with:

• developing or refining operating conditions
• parking arrangements
• onboarding new authorities to the Shared Mobility Management Platform.

Authorities have 60 days to decide an application, unless it is unreasonable to do so. If a decision is not made within this timeframe, the application will be considered refused. The operator may then apply to Transport for NSW for a review.

After making a decision, authorities must notify Transport for NSW of the outcome. This helps maintain accurate operator authorisation records and supports compliance and enforcement activities.

Under the sharing scheme regulatory framework, you will have new enforcement powers. You can use these to issue infringements to operators for:

• making a device available for hire without a helmet
• visible maintenance issues
• non-compliance with parking controls
• contravening operator conditions set in your operating authorisation.

These add to the existing powers you have under the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021 (PSUP Act).

Transport will develop an enforcement guide to support consistent use of these powers. This guide will be created in consultation with authorities and the Office of Local Government.

Learn more about the PSUP Act.

Transport will provide authorities with access to the Shared Mobility Management Platform. This platform monitors e-bike services and allows authorities to generate insights about services in their area.

Transport also collects data from operators on complaints and reported safety incidents.  

Authorities may choose to submit de-identified reports on the complaints they receive and manage.

This information helps Transport:  

• evaluate the regulatory framework
• identify opportunities to improve how shared e-bike services are managed across NSW
• better partner with operators and authorities.

Learn more about the data requirements for sharing schemes in NSW:

• NSW Micromobility Data Implementation Specification (PDF 804.82KB).

Approved operators are required to pay fees to both authorities and Transport.

Fees are based on the number of trips taken on an operator's shared e-bikes and include:  

• up to $0.60 per trip across NSW, payable to Transport for NSW  
• up to $0.20 per trip that starts within an authorised area, payable to the relevant authority.  

Regulation sets out how fee notices are issued. Fee notices will be issued quarterly, starting in 2027.

Trip data from the Shared Mobility Management Platform will be used to calculate fees, ensuring a consistent approach for all parties.

Transport will support authorities to issue the first fee notices. We will provide guidance on this closer to the time.

You can also apply for funding through the Sharing Scheme Grant Program for eligible works including delivering parking bays and rider education initiatives.

You can play an important role in promoting and enabling road safety outcomes.

You are encouraged to work with operators to engage with local communities and deliver education and communication initiatives in areas of operation.  

This may include in local communities:  

• learn to ride sessions  
• pop-up engagement sessions.  

To support authorities, Transport has developed the Authorities’ Communications and Engagement Toolkit (PDF 2.37MB).  

You can also apply for funding through the Sharing Scheme Grant Program.

You can nominate a target fleet size for your area of operation.

Transport will publish recommended fleet size ranges for each area of operation in the Fleet Utilisation and Management Guidance, as required under section 127V of the Regulation.

For each assessment period, you can nominate the total number of shared micromobility devices available for hire in your area of operation. This is known as the area fleet target.

When you nominate an area fleet target, you must consider:

• the objectives of the Regulation
• Transport fleet utilisation and management guidance.

You must give Transport written notice of your area fleet target by 31 January 2027 and before the start of each subsequent assessment period.

Learn more about managing fleet sizes and shared e-bike parking.