Bikes back for summer

Operators to tender for new Coast share scheme

A BIKE share scheme similar to the one that operated during the Commonwealth Games could be up and running on Gold Coast cycleways by the summer holidays.

Councillors yesterday backed an officer’s report which recommended the city go to the market to seek a contract for the supply, management and maintenance of a bike share scheme.

But for the operator to get a tick from council, it will have to be at no cost to the ratepayer.

The report said a contract to Transit Australia Group was terminated on June 30 following Meituan Dianping’s decision to withdraw Mobike from the Gold Coast.

But officers concluded the scheme had been successful and another contract to a new supplier could be offered on a three-year timeline.

“Based on previous experience, the city expects the number of operational bikes to be between 750 and 1500 once the scheme is fully operational. This will however be dependent on the model proposed by the tenderers,” the report said.

Officers will set key requirements on the contract including on-street management and the bikes not causing safety or accessibility issues.

In a bid not to discourage tenders, the council has agreed to the option of power-assisted bicycles. But councillors were advised these bicycles only helped older riders manage hilly sections of pathways and should not be confused with motorised scooters.

An investigation into the viability, safety and legal operation of ride share e-scooters is expected to be presented to council later this year. Outside the meeting, Mayor Tom Tate, who attended the transport committee debate, said the previous scheme had about 90,000 registered users.

“So from a scheme and a city point of view it was a success,” he said. “It was the corporate restructuring that they wanted to deploy their asset back in China which was their parent country, and I guess they have more population there want their bikes back.

“I said today we should retender and now what we should look at is to re-tender for bikes with the highest technology. It means with your smart phone you can pick which bike you want.”

The Mayor said he hoped the tender process could be sorted across a 12-week period.

“It would be in time for the summer holidays. I’d be happy (for council) to do add-on bike racks.” and