HCC Greens alderman Bill Harvey is calling on council to invest in a small fleet of electric bikes for council use.
At Monday’s council meeting, alderman will debate wether or not to investigate the purchase of electric bikes for use by council staff.
Alderman Harvey is calling for a report on purchasing several electric bicycles (e-bikes) for use by council staff as an alternative to driving short to medium distances in HCC vehicles. He also wants the report to include the potential requirements for future e-bike infrastructure in anticipation of a growth in commuter use.
Alderman Harvey said “the use of e-bikes is growing significantly in many countries in response to traffic congestion, rising fuel costs and climate change.”
“They also extend the distance people are prepared and able to ride and eliminate the effort of riding up hills.”
Australia Post is now rolling out a fleet of e-bikes in Melbourne to cut greenhouse gas emissions and Manningham and Yarra Councils in Victoria are using e-bikes as part of their environmental programs.
A small fleet of e-bikes as an option for HCC staff and officers could potentially have several benefits to council.
E-bikes could eliminate many of the short to medium length journeys currently undertaken using council vehicles, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions, which supports councils Climate Action Strategy, and encouraging alternative forms of transport, supports council’s Sustainable Transport Strategy.
Alderman Harvey believes it’s also an opportunity for council to gain an understanding of the performance, charging and infrastructure demand requirements in anticipation of a future growth in e-bike use.
He believes e-bikes are well suited to Hobart’s undulating terrain and the initiative would send a positive message to the community about the use of alternative forms of transport.
