Infrastructure Briefs – December 2024

Self-contained, self-powered water desalination and mobility solution

Benzina Zero Partners with Global Company’s Disaster Relief Stations In October Benzina Zero announced a partnership with Beam Global (a USA based company that has no connection with the shared mobility operator Beam Mobility). Benzina will supply their Duo light electric vehicles for Beam Global’s new BeamWell stations. The BeamWell product is a self-sufficient, self-contained…

Bicycles Have a Huge Positive Impact in Developing Countries

A person in Africa with bicycle

Lusaka, Zambia A landmark detailed study recently released World Bicycle Relief and IDinsight has provided critical evidence on the power of bicycles to boost livelihoods and empower rural communities. In late October 2024 World Bicycle Relief (WBR), a non-profit social enterprise that supports rural and remote communities by helping adults and children overcome transportation barriers,…

Beam Fallout Continues After Whistleblower’s Revelations

Two people with e-scooter

On the weekend of Saturday 24th August, a story about micromobility was splashed across the front page of the Weekend Australian newspaper under the headline, “‘Running Hot Project’: e-scooter firm Beam accused of audacious scam” The first section of this article will republish a large section of that original article published by the Weekend Australian,…

Paris Shines Before and During the Olympics

Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower.

Paris, France In July I stayed in Paris for a couple of days and took the most of my opportunity to tour as much of the city as possible by bike. It was my first visit to one of my favourite cities in the world since before covid. Part of my affection for this city…

Lee Waters Completes Successful Speaking Tour of Australia

Group of leading cycling advocates and politicians.

One of cycling advocacy’s global leaders recently spoke to large, enthusiastic crowds across Australia. Over recent years Lee Waters has been one of the most courageous and consequential politicians in the world when it comes to advocating for safer, more sustainable travel modes and questioning the usually unchallenged primacy of private automobiles. As Minister for…

Infrastructure Briefs – Some Important Australian Projects Progressing Well

Kangaroo Point Bridge

If you’re an advocate for better cycling and micromobility infrastructure in Australia, you may sometimes despair at the slow rate of progress. So sometimes its good to stop and take stock of what is actually getting built. The items summarised within this article total more than half a billion dollars of new infrastructure that is…

Queensland E-Mobility Incentive Scheme Doubled

Cyclists riding across a city bridge.

Brisbane, Queensland On Monday 30th September the Queensland government announced that they were doubling the previously launched $1 million e-Mobility Rebate Scheme due to exceptional demand. Surpassing all expectations, an extra million dollars was added, with the Government stating it received over 860 applications for e-bike and e-scooter incentives in just the first three days…

What Next for E-Scooter Share in the City of Melbourne?

E-scooters parked in a row on the street.

Melbourne, Victoria As was widely reported at the time, on Tuesday 13th August, the Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne moved to ban e-scooters from the City of Melbourne. The motion to end the council’s contracts with operators Lime and Neuron as part of the two-year trial, narrowly passed, six votes to four. What…

Transport Minister “Sick and Tired” of Funding Cycleways

People riding bikes on shared path.

Wellington, New Zealand New Zealand changed government in November 2023 with the right wing National Party forming a coalition with two smaller popularist parties. In September 2024 New Zealand’s Transport Minister, Simeon Brown announced released a National Land Transport Program that included NZ$32.9 billion (A$30.1 billion) for transport over the next three years. But the…

I’ve Got a Golden Ticket! … err, Golden Helmet.

Two people putting on gold coloured helmets at e-scooter bay.

Melbourne Victoria E-scooter operator, Neuron Mobility, ran its fourth annual Helmet Safety Awareness Week from 21st to 29th September, in partnership with road safety charity the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF). This year’s campaign, which is referred to as ‘Golden Helmet Week’, will build on their continued commitment to highlight the importance of wearing a…