Posts by Phil Latz
Product News Briefs: Cake Crumbles While VanMoof Revives
Innovative Light Electric Vehicle Brand Cake Files for Bankruptcy Electric motorcycle startup Cake filed for bankruptcy February 1, Cake CEO Stefan Ytterborn has confirmed. We previously reported about some of Cake’s light electric vehicle products here and here.More recently, in October 2023 we announced here that Sydney-headquartered Deus Ex Machina had agreed to become the…
E-Bike Battery Forum Focuses on Fire Risks and Recycling
Adelaide, SA E-Bikes have transformed both the Australian and global bicycle industries in terms of making them larger and, at least potentially, more profitable than ever before. But two serious challenges are threatening to derail this growth. Of these, fire is the most acute right now. The second, battery recycling, is only just entering many…
Infrastructure Briefs: UK Bans Toyota Advertisement on Environmental Grounds
UK Bans Toyota Hilux Advertisement Toyota was running an advertising campaign in the UK that was like so many that we’ve all seen before. An ‘army’ of Toyota Hilux pickup trucks (or utes as we might call them here) were shown careening through the wilderness while a voiceover describes the scene as “one of nature’s…
Hard Times for Some Bike and Scooter Share Companies
It appears that there is a consolidation happening, or ‘culling’ if you prefer a more brutal description, in the global bike and scooter share market. Bird’s global struggles have impacted it’s Australian operations, which as we reported here appear to have ceased, although the company has not responded to our request for confirmation. But since…
Strong Demand So Far for Tasmanian E-Bike Subsidies
Hobart, Tasmania As we previously reported here, late last year Tasmania became the first Australian state to announce an e-bike subsidy program. There are many subsidy programs already underway or completed elsewhere in the world including Europe and the USA. They consistent pattern has been strong and immediate uptake and based on the following information,…
City of Adelaide Votes to Subsidise E-Bike Purchases
Adelaide, SA On Tuesday, 30th January 2024 the City of Adelaide became the first government in mainland Australia to commit to subsidising the purchase of e-bikes and electric-assisted as well as unassisted cargo bikes for its residents and business operators. Australian cycling organisations, including Bike SA, have long lobbied all levels of government for just…
Cycling Advocates Make Seven Point 2024/25 Federal Budget Submission
Canberra ACT Every year interested groups are invited to make submissions to what they think should be included in the upcoming Federal Budget. Most people would be unaware of the sheer scale of the Federal Budget. For the current financial year of 2023/24 projected expenditure is $668.1 billion. Put another way, that’s just over two…
Beam Wins Long Term Licences for Brisbane and Beyond
Brisbane, Qld On 21st December 2023 Beam announced that it had won its second consecutive operational license to operate in Brisbane, following a successful tender process for a new permit led by Brisbane City Council (BCC). Beam said that the licence will run from July 2024 to July 2027 and that it will bring shared…
Lime Runs Multifaceted Summer Safety Blitz
Melbourne, Vic Bike and scooter share operator Lime is running a multi-faceted safety blitz this summer in Melbourne, in addition to ongoing safety enhancements. The program includes a ‘safety ambassador team’ and parking wardens. Rather than handing out fines like council parking wardens, Lime’s wardens hand out “Good Parking Notices” to those doing the right…
Advocacy Briefs: CEO Personnel Changes in Four Key Advocacy Organisations
Three Australian and one International advocacy organisation have all recently announced changes at the CEO level. Bicycle SA CEO of Bicycle South Australia, Brett Gillett is stepping down from the role due to health reasons. Brett has run the peak cycling advocacy group for South Australia for two years after taking over from long-time previous…