E-bike hire scheme rolls into town

BALLARAT has new way to get around with an e-bike hire scheme quietly launched last week.

The scheme is run by Neuron Mobility, providers of the city’s current e-scooter hire program.

The bikes were announced as part of the City of Ballarat’s Ride Ballarat initiative that focuses on 16 kilometres of bike paths in the municipality.

“Ballarat has a growing network of safe, quiet and enjoyable routes to ride a bike and the Ride Ballarat initiative includes easy wayfinding to guide locals and visitors on a curated highlights package of Ballarat sites,” mayor Cr Des Husdon said.

“The Neuron e-bikes are available for hire, or you can just bring your own bike.”

Unlike the city’s e-scooter hire trial, the e-bikes come with increased limitations.

Chief among them is access, while there a hundreds of scooters, there are currently only 12 bikes.

The bikes also have a limited usage area that is smaller than the e-scooters with a Neuron spokesperson saying they were restricted to “Ballarat Central to Lake Wendouree and Victoria Park.”

“Neuron e-bikes are available to ride across a smaller designated section of the current e-scooter service, to support the city’s network of cycling paths,” the statement said.

It costs the same to rent a bike as it does a scooter, with a $1 unlocking fee and 45 cents a minute, and all riders have to be over 18 years old.

Yusuf Abdulahi, regional manager for Neuron Mobility, welcomed the opportunity to add his company’s bikes to the city.

“We are delighted to be supporting Ballarat city council’s Ride Ballarat initiative by providing Neuron e-bikes for the summer,” he said.

“We hope the introduction of e-bikes will encourage residents and tourists to explore the city’s wonderful network of cycling paths.”

The e-bikes are not part of the city’s current e-scooter trail which is overseen by the State’s Department of Transport.