E-bikes and e-scooters face Sydney train and metro ban
In the same week as a portable charging pack caught fire mid-air on a Virgin flight, signs began popping up at Sydney train stations advising of a new request to keep e-bikes off trains.
'Please don't bring e-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards on board Sydney Trains services,' read the sign, which was shared online by cycling enthusiasts. 'Some lithium batteries can pose a fire risk.'
But they were erected prematurely. NSW and Victorian state governments wrote to the federal government this week asking for stronger laws around the importation of low-quality e-bikes and e-scooters.
Until that changes, Transport Minister John Graham said NSW was 'seriously considering options including a temporary ban on trains until we are satisfied that regulations are tight enough, with public safety as our highest priority'.
If the government goes ahead with the ban, the posters will be used as a 'request' before the ban comes into effect.
In briefings with stakeholder groups this week, Transport for NSW officials said they were planning to start a ban from September 1.
E-bikes often contain lithium-ion batteries, which have become a major source of concern for fire authorities. They have regularly featured in home fires when e-bike and e-scooter chargers have caught fire overnight.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Beware the hidden landmines in our credit card fees
Credit cards have been part of Australian life since the 1970s, offering convenience, though often at a cost. Over the decades, banks have profited handsomely from fees and interest charges that hit the most vulnerable the hardest. One infamous case involved a low-income customer who checked her balance at an ATM, saw $30, and withdrew it – only to be slugged a $2 inquiry fee that pushed her into the red. The result? A $30 penalty for overdrawing. It's a stark example of how small transactions can trigger outsized punishments in a system rigged against the poor. The mistreatment continues when penalty interest rates are often wildly out of step with the Reserve Bank's steadily falling cash rate. On overdue accounts, American Express charges 23.99 per cent, Latitude 27.99 per cent, and Virgin Money 20.74 per cent. These figures are not just high – they're psychologically engineered to appear more palatable. Pricing just under round numbers, a tactic long used in retail to mute the real cost, is now embedded in credit policy too. But whether it's $27.99 or 28 per cent, the pain to struggling cardholders is the same. Given the huge cost of being late with repayments, I've always made a habit of paying the balance the day the statement arrives, so there can be no arguments about when it was paid. This has worked well for many years. The credit card companies always send an email when the statement is available, and I've relied on those emails – never keeping a diary note – until now. Loading In June, I began receiving texts allegedly from Virgin, asking me to contact them about my credit card. I thought they were scams and ignored them – understandable, given the influx of bogus messages we receive these days. Then the June statement arrived with a big heading: 'Your account is overdue.' That came as a major shock – it's never happened before. There was also a narration: 'interest charged retail', $79.71. I considered calling Virgin to explain that I've always paid my card in full on time, and that I never received an email alerting me to the statement. But knowing how long the wait times can be, I decided it wasn't worth it. I paid the full balance that day. Then the next statement came – and that's when things really turned sour. Even though I'd paid the previous one immediately, I was hit with another debit: $19.05 for more interest. Assuming a mistake, I rang them to point out that I'd paid before the due date, so further interest made no sense. That's when the real kicker came. The woman on the phone said: 'Oh no, if you miss one payment, you then lose two interest-free periods.' In other words, even though I'd paid early, I was still going to be charged again.
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
Beware the hidden landmines in our credit card fees
Credit cards have been part of Australian life since the 1970s, offering convenience, though often at a cost. Over the decades, banks have profited handsomely from fees and interest charges that hit the most vulnerable the hardest. One infamous case involved a low-income customer who checked her balance at an ATM, saw $30, and withdrew it – only to be slugged a $2 inquiry fee that pushed her into the red. The result? A $30 penalty for overdrawing. It's a stark example of how small transactions can trigger outsized punishments in a system rigged against the poor. The mistreatment continues when penalty interest rates are often wildly out of step with the Reserve Bank's steadily falling cash rate. On overdue accounts, American Express charges 23.99 per cent, Latitude 27.99 per cent, and Virgin Money 20.74 per cent. These figures are not just high – they're psychologically engineered to appear more palatable. Pricing just under round numbers, a tactic long used in retail to mute the real cost, is now embedded in credit policy too. But whether it's $27.99 or 28 per cent, the pain to struggling cardholders is the same. Given the huge cost of being late with repayments, I've always made a habit of paying the balance the day the statement arrives, so there can be no arguments about when it was paid. This has worked well for many years. The credit card companies always send an email when the statement is available, and I've relied on those emails – never keeping a diary note – until now. Loading In June, I began receiving texts allegedly from Virgin, asking me to contact them about my credit card. I thought they were scams and ignored them – understandable, given the influx of bogus messages we receive these days. Then the June statement arrived with a big heading: 'Your account is overdue.' That came as a major shock – it's never happened before. There was also a narration: 'interest charged retail', $79.71. I considered calling Virgin to explain that I've always paid my card in full on time, and that I never received an email alerting me to the statement. But knowing how long the wait times can be, I decided it wasn't worth it. I paid the full balance that day. Then the next statement came – and that's when things really turned sour. Even though I'd paid the previous one immediately, I was hit with another debit: $19.05 for more interest. Assuming a mistake, I rang them to point out that I'd paid before the due date, so further interest made no sense. That's when the real kicker came. The woman on the phone said: 'Oh no, if you miss one payment, you then lose two interest-free periods.' In other words, even though I'd paid early, I was still going to be charged again.
The Australian
11 hours ago
- The Australian
Fare-free hours extended on Sydney public transport
Trains and metro services will be fee-free into the early hours of Saturday in Sydney, after months of disruption and industrial action. Originally planned for Thursday and Friday, the period has been extended with Opal gates at train and metro stations now remaining open or turned off from 12.01am Thursday 31 July until 6am on Saturday 2 August. The fare-free travel period is an acknowledgment of the disruption that occurred before the Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Enterprise Agreement was agreed with the rail workforce earlier this month. Transport Minister John Graham said the announcement came as an admission the disruptions were unacceptable but also an invitation 'to support those businesses who had some lean days'. The fare-free period is from Thursday until 6am Saturday. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard The fare free period is predicted to amount to at least $6.4m in lost revenue for Transport NSW, with 2.2 million people forecast to make use of the free window. Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison added the fare-free days included regional routes to locations like Melbourne and Brisbane. 'We encourage our regional passengers to use the rail network over these two days to explore regional NSW. 'You will need to book in advance, but this is a fantastic opportunity to get out and explore this state and beyond.' Fare-free travel does not extend to buses, ferries or light rail. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short Not everyone is pleased with the move however, regular commuter Joe said it comes 'too little too late'. '(The disruptions) earlier this year really messed me around so much, Sydney trains are slow and smelly at the best of times but paying what we do and receiving that kind of treatment just isn't on. 'The fare-free period is a nice gesture but as commuters what we want isn't gestures, it's better transport.' The free travel will not extend to buses, ferries or light rail which will charge fares as normal however Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou said it was a good opportunity to support business around train stations affected by the disruptions. Transport Minister John Graham said the government was working 'overtime' to restore public faith in the service. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw 'Fare-free travel on Thursday and Friday is a terrific initiative that sends a strong signal of confidence in Sydney and Parramatta's CBDs. It's not just a win for commuters — it's a much-needed boost for food, hospitality and retail businesses that have faced enormous pressure over recent months.' 'Encouraging people to return to the office and explore the city at no cost helps revitalise our commercial centres and reconnects workers with the vibrant, dynamic experiences our CBDs are known for.' 'This thoughtful initiative is expected to benefit more than a million passengers, but its impact will ripple far beyond the trains and buses — it will support jobs, stimulate spending, and re-energise the heart of our economy.' Robert White Cadet Robert got his start as an Editorial Assistant at the Daily Telegraph in 2024 before entering the Newscorp cadet program. With a background in history and law Robert has a passion for politics and crime reporting as well as telling meaningful stories. @white_robb73416 Robert White
