E-bikes in demand

Cycles, including e-bikes, are in such demand during the COVID-19 pandemic that one Sydney bike retailer likens it to the “new toilet paper” and says “everyone wants a piece”.

The Electric Bike Team (EBT) in Auckland says it has also seen a post COVID boom in e-bike sales with demand so hot there’s a risk global supply won’t keep up.

The shortage has led to the EBT cancelling its winter birthday sale, planning a “Spring Clean Sale” instead.

EBT suggests anyone wanting an e-bike either now or in spring or summer should order it as soon as possible as the indications are there will be fewer choices and longer delays come summer.

It says the overseas bike trade has been very busy as the longer restrictions remain the more people want e-bikes and other cycles or training devices for them.

That’s apparent in Sydney and Melbourne, with one Sydney store forced to stop servicing bikes just to assemble new purchases, The Guardian reports.

A South Melbourne bike retailer is reported as saying the winter flu season means few want to use public transport, especially with the COVID-19 risk, so many are turning to cycling to stay active while maintaining social distancing.

Bicycle Network in Australia suggests age restrictions on footpath bike riding should be removed in Melbourne to make it easier for people to exercise.

Changing footpath riding rules would give everyone safe space to exercise without leaving their suburb and breaking COVID-19 restrictions, Bicycle Network chief executive Craig Richards says.

“The bike boom during the first lockdown showed us that people love riding bikes, but the current lockdown has made that harder for people who don’t live near an off-road trail.”

Only children aged up to 13 years can ride a bike on the pavement in Victoria, regardless of whether the adjacent road has no bike lane, high speed limits or is used by heavy vehicles.

Adults may also ride on the footpath with a child under 13 in a seat on their bike.

Victoria and New South Wales are the only places in Australia with age limits on footpath riding – with the limit in NSW 16.

States like South Australia and Western Australis that removed restrictions a few years ago did not have problems with conflict between people on bikes and pedestrians., Bicycle Network says.