Can You Take an E-Bike on Adelaide Metro? Trains, Trams, Buses and Bike Cages (2026)

Yes, but only on trains. According to Adelaide Metro, e-bikes can be taken on Adelaide trains but not on buses or trams, and modified e-bikes aren't allowed on board at all. Your bike travels in an empty wheelchair space, it's free outside the weekday peaks, and in the peaks you need a separate concession fare for the bike. If you'd rather leave the bike at the station, Adelaide Metro runs free, secure bike cages at a growing number of stations and interchanges.

Which Adelaide Metro services take e-bikes?

Adelaide Metro's taking items on board page is clear on the basics:

• Trains: e-bikes are allowed when there's space.
• Trams: regular bikes and e-bikes aren't allowed.
• Buses: regular bikes and e-bikes aren't allowed.
• Fuel-powered bikes: motorised bikes that run on fuel aren't allowed on any service.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport's cycling and public transport page gives the reason for the bus and tram rule: there's nowhere on board to secure a bike.

What counts as a "modified" e-bike?

Adelaide Metro says modified e-bikes are not permitted on board, but its page doesn't define the term. In practice, the safe assumption is that this covers regular bikes converted with an aftermarket motor kit, and e-bikes that have been tampered with, for example "de-restricted" to assist beyond 25 km/h or fitted with a bigger battery or motor than they came with.

Those bikes are also likely to be illegal to ride on SA roads and paths in the first place. Our guide to e-bike rules in South Australia explains the 250-watt and 25 km/h limits that a legal e-bike has to meet. If you're not sure whether your bike counts as modified, call the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108 before you travel rather than finding out on the platform.

Bike fares and peak times

According to Adelaide Metro, whether you pay for your bike depends on when you travel:

• Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 2:59 pm: the bike travels free.
• Monday to Friday, after 6:00 pm: free.
• Weekends and public holidays: free all day.
• Monday to Friday, before 9:00 am and from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm: you need a separate peak concession fare for each bike, on top of your own fare.
• Senior Card holders: can take a bike free at any time, when there's space.

Adelaide Metro also notes that bikes, prams and luggage must not block other passengers, and if there isn't enough room you may need to wait for the next service.

Where does the bike go on the train?

Adelaide Metro says bikes can be secured in an empty wheelchair space during your trip, and the bike must be moved if a passenger using a mobility aid needs that space. A few practical points follow from that:

• Stay with your bike and hold it steady, especially when the train brakes. E-bikes are heavy and can tip easily.
• Watch who's boarding so you can move quickly if the space is needed.
• Adelaide Metro says drivers can't physically help you board or lift items, so make sure you can manage the weight of your e-bike on your own, or travel with someone who can help.

Can you take a folding e-bike on buses and trams?

Possibly, but check first. Adelaide Metro says folding bikes travel free on buses, trains and trams if they're folded and fully enclosed in a bag no bigger than 90 x 60 x 40 cm. However, the same page says e-bikes can be taken on trains only, and it doesn't say whether folding e-bikes are an exception.

Most folding e-bikes are also too large and heavy to fit inside a bag that size once folded. If you're hoping to use a folding e-bike on a bus or tram, ask the InfoLine before you buy one or plan a trip around it. E-scooters and other electric personal mobility devices aren't allowed on any Adelaide Metro service, according to the same page.

Leaving your e-bike at the station: Bike n Ride cages

If you'd rather not take your bike on the train, Adelaide Metro's secure bike cages are a good option. A Department for Infrastructure and Transport news release from August 2026 says:

• A new cage recently opened at Woodville Railway Station, and a cage at Mawson Interchange was due to open later in August 2026.
• Cages have been delivered in recent years at Salisbury, Smithfield, Golden Grove and Old Reynella.
• Once Mawson opens, the network will total 21 facilities with about 500 parking spaces.
• The cages are free, enclosed, monitored by CCTV and fitted with interior bike rails.

To find your nearest cage, use the facility map on Adelaide Metro's bikes page.

How to get Bike n Ride cage access

Access runs through a registered metroCARD (or a Seniors Card). According to Adelaide Metro and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport:

• Set up cage access by visiting the InfoCentre at Adelaide Railway Station or calling the InfoLine on 1300 311 108.
• Your metroCARD needs to have been validated on a bus, train or tram, or at a barrier gate, before you can use a cage.
• Tap your card on the validator at the cage entrance to open it.
• Access bought online loads onto your card when you tap a cage validator, which can take up to an hour after purchase. Access set up at the Adelaide Railway Station counter works straight away.

Adelaide Metro also offers bike lockers at some locations, which need a refundable deposit. The InfoCentre or InfoLine can tell you about availability and waiting lists.

Lock your bike inside the cage

The cages are shared with other card holders, and Adelaide Metro says bikes and helmets are stored at your own risk and should be secured to a rail with an appropriate lock. It also says items shouldn't be left overnight, and anything left for more than two weeks will be removed.

A cage keeps casual thieves out, but an e-bike is a valuable target, so it's worth using a proper lock rather than a thin cable. These two picks suit a daily park-and-ride routine. Our e-bike lock guide has more options.

Easy to carry

ABUS Bordo Granit X-Plus 6500

A folding lock from German brand ABUS that packs down into a compact holder on your frame, then opens out long enough to go around a cage rail and your frame. It sits near the top of ABUS's own security rating scale, so it's a sensible choice for an e-bike that's left for a full working day.

• Folds small and mounts on the frame
• High ABUS security rating
• Long enough for most bike rails

• Heavier than lighter-duty locks
• Premium price

Check price on Amazon AU

Extra peace of mind

Knog Scout

A small bike alarm and tracker from Melbourne brand Knog that bolts under your bottle cage. If someone moves your bike, it sounds a loud alarm and alerts your phone, and it works with Apple's Find My network so you have a chance of locating the bike if it's taken. It's designed for iPhone users, so Android riders should look at the options in our e-bike GPS tracker guide.

• Motion alarm plus Find My tracking
• Discreet mount under the bottle cage
• Rechargeable via USB

• iPhone only
• Not a replacement for a good lock

Check price on Amazon AU

Planning the ride to and from the station

Many riders use the train to skip the busiest part of the trip, then ride the rest. Our guide to the best bike paths in Adelaide for e-bike riders covers routes like the River Torrens Linear Park and Coast Park. Travelling outside the weekday peaks saves the bike fare and usually means more room on board, and it's worth allowing a few spare minutes in case you need to wait for the next train.

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