ITS Monday: Edition 28, 2026
ITS Monday is a small, weekly collection of curated content from the worlds of intelligent transport systems, smart mobility, and associated areas. This is the 265th edition to date, and the first for 2026.
Included this week, fixing the dangerous e-bike problem(s), traffic safety, road use charging, and Australia driverless in a decade,
The article headlines below are:
- Australia opened the door to dangerous e‑bikes. New safety standards could finally close it
- Traffic safety culture within the safe system: developing a common definition of traffic safety culture
- Auckland’s de-congestion charge: Why the biggest option may not be the obvious winner
- Aussie capitals ‘will be driverless within a decade’, says robotaxi pioneer
This week’s articles
Now, scroll down, and see what’s in this week’s edition. Oh, and before you do, be sure check out the quickest way to receive our new content via the subscription box just below …
Australia opened the door to dangerous e‑bikes. New safety standards could finally close it
Richard J. Buning,
Research Lead at the UQ Micromobility Research Cluster, The University of Queensland writing for The Conversation. “For five years, dangerously overpowered e-bikes have been legally imported to Australia. Many are effectively electric motorbikes, able to reach 50km/h – or even faster if modified. Riders – often young men – can get hold of one without needing a motorbike license. Injuries and deaths have soared. Authorities have tried to police the issue on the streets. But the real problem starts at the nation’s borders and e-bike retailers. This month, the federal government announced plans for a national safety standard for e-bikes, with e-scooters to follow.”
Related iMOVE article:
Related iMOVE projects:
- eRideables and their impact transport in Perth
- Connectivity between micromobility & public transport in Brisbane
- Policy paths encouraging behaviour shift for sustainable mobility
A new academic paper, co-authored by a large group: Tor-Olav Nævestad, Uta Meesmann, Henriette Wallén Warner, Susanne Kaiser, Ingeborg S. Hesjevoll, Ingeborg S. Hesjevoll, Vibeke Milch, Sonja Forward, Mathias De Roeck, Michael Schachne, Dimitris Nikolaou, Gunilla Björklund, Alexandra Laiou, Hanna Wennberg, Eva Aigner-Breuss, and Anita Eichhorn. The bstract
This paper develops a common, theoretically grounded definition of traffic safety culture within a Safe System perspective. It provides the first triangulated, expert-informed, theoretically grounded unified definition of traffic safety culture applicable across actors in the transport system.
Despite increasing use of the concept in research and policy, traffic safety culture is defined, measured and used in different ways, which may limit its usefulness for measurement and implementation. To address this gap, the study applies a three-step mixed-methods approach combining systematic literature reviews, two Delphi studies with international experts, and complementary focus group discussions. The literature reviews identified recurring conceptual elements across definitions of organisational safety culture and traffic safety culture, including shared values, beliefs, attitudes, norms, and patterns of behaviour.
Two Delphi studies demonstrated strong expert consensus on the importance of these elements for both organisational contexts (e.g., drivers at work) and societal traffic contexts. Focus group discussions further highlighted the need for definitions that are practically applicable, sensitive to social context, and suitable for different actors within the transport system. Based on these findings, the paper proposes a unified definition of traffic safety culture that applies across meaningfully defined groups of actors, including road users, organisations, authorities, and other stakeholders.
The definition emphasises shared cultural elements that shape how traffic safety is understood and enacted, while allowing for group-specific aspects in measurement and intervention.
READ THE ARTICLE
Auckland’s de-congestion charge: Why the biggest option may not be the obvious winner
“Auckland’s congestion-charging debate has reached the point where the interesting question is no longer simply whether road pricing is a good idea. It is: Where should Auckland charge, and what outcome is it actually trying to optimise?”
READ THE ARTICLE
Aussie capitals ‘will be driverless within a decade’, says robotaxi pioneer
“Australia will be a great fit for the tech, although due to its size, obviously not a prime market in terms of revenue share,” Kentley Klay said.
“By 2036, I’d think practically all but long-range rides in Australia’s capitals will be autonomous. People prefer the service: clean, private and safe. And for a time, lower cost, too.”
Related iMOVE articles:
- Autonomous Driving: Info, Projects & Resources
- Autonomous Driving Technology: Info, Projects & Resources
Related iMOVE projects:
- CAVs and the environment: A cleaner future?
- CAVs and Australians: Attitudes, perceptions, preferences
- Safely deploying automated vehicles on Australian roads
We used to send out a weekly newsletter, ITS Weekly Roundup, a collection of ITS- and mobility-related news from across the world. ITS Monday is a replacement for that, a collection of links to news and opinion pieces, academic papers, and more. Additionally, you can follow us on Linkedin and Twitter, both of which have a focus on iMOVE news and projects, or subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter.
*Inclusion in ITS Monday does not equal iMOVE endorsement. It’s more aimed at discovery, thought, or discussion … or all of those and more. And while for the most part I expect content to be current, a little age doesn’t mean diminished interest.
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