Parents are being warned to do their research and only buy legal e-bikes for their children this Christmas, as police crack down on modified bikes and dangerous riding, and the NSW government announces legal power will be reduced to 250W, in line with other states.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver has urged people to be aware of what type of e-bike they are buying and to check the rules to ensure they are purchasing a legal e-bike.
‘If you are considering buying an e-bike for Christmas, make sure it complies with NSW law,’ Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
‘Don’t get pressured by your children, peers or salespeople into buying the most powerful bike. Police don’t want someone to make a mistake that costs them their life or causes them serious injury.
‘We don’t want a Christmas present to become the ultimate buyer’s regret.’
Assistant Commissioner Driver said parents had a responsibility to ensure the bike was not modified and urged parents to make sure their child could ride the bike safely before they went onto the road or footpath.
‘We have seen more modified bikes and powerful motors fitted,’ he said. ‘We need riders to understand the dangers of riding on one wheel, without a helmet or in the dark with no lights.
‘An e-bike is illegal if it has a greater power output than 500 watts, even if it is limited by software. Parents must remain vigilant and be aware of how easy it can be to modify the bike.’
The Christmas warning comes after police ran an education and compliance operation in the Sydney area last week.
Officers stopped 115 e-bikes, with 176 infringements and 111 rider cautions issued.
E-bike rules
- Rider must primarily propel the bike with the pedals.
- Motors are intended to assist when riding uphill or into headwind, not as the primary source of propulsion.
- An electrically power-assisted cycle can only have a maximum power output of 500 watts.
- The electric motor must cut off when the bicycle reaches 25km/h.
- The electric motor should not assist the rider when travelling more than 25km/h but does not prevent the rider travelling faster with their own pedalling or going downhill.
- The motor can be used up to 6km/h before the rider must pedal.
- Illegal e-bikes are not able to be registered in NSW and are therefore unregistered and uninsured motor vehicles.
- All riders and passengers must wear approved helmets that are securely fitted and fastened.
- Only children under 16 years of age or adults accompanying a child under 16 can ride on a footpath, unless there are signs prohibiting bicycle riding.
- Riders need to keep to the left and give way to pedestrians on shared paths or footpaths.
- Mobile phones must be hands free or secured in a commercially manufactured phone holder fixed to the bike.
- It is illegal to text, make video phone calls, use social media, or take photos/videos while riding.
Fines
- $818 for illegal e-bike use.
- $410 for not wearing an approved helmet.
- $410 for holding a mobile phone.
- Riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol can lead to fines or imprisonment. Penalties apply for negligent or dangerous riding.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
