Pedal To Metal: E-bike Library To Double In Size
Just one week after launching, Hobart’s Free E-Bike Library is already gearing up for an expansion following an avalanche of bookings.
More than 100 people have signed up to borrow one of the library’s six bicycles, meaning some models are now booked out until late 2026.
In response to strong public demand, the City of Hobart is fast-tracking the addition of six more e-bikes – doubling the fleet and allowing more people to take part.
The program, which launched on Wednesday May 7, allows residents to borrow an electric bike for two weeks, free of charge (a refundable bond applies), giving them a chance to try one out before deciding whether to invest in one themselves.
Funded by the Tasmanian Government’s Community Climate Change Action Grants, the program’s early success highlights strong demand for affordable, low-emissions transport options – and the value of public investment in active transport.
The initiative also delivers on key goals in the Hobart Transport Strategy 2024, which aims to make sustainable and active transport more viable and accessible, ultimately providing transport choice for all residents.
As the program grows, the City is exploring the opportunity for businesses to sponsor the purchase of additional e-bikes for the library. Each sponsored bike could be added to the fleet and feature the business’s branding.
The expansion coincides with National Road Safety Week, during which City of Hobart staff have distributed free high-vis reflective bands to improve safety and visibility for cyclists and pedestrians at night.
https://www.hobartcity.com.au/Council/News-publications-and-announcements/Media-centre/Pedal-to-the-metal-E-bike-library-to-double-in-size