Tamara Smith’s office responded quickly to my concerns about illegal electric motorbikes, and suggested people keep their local council and police informed about e-bike accidents and dangerous events. It [the response] included a link to a 165-page report from the 2025 NSW Legislative Council Inquiry (Google: Report No 25 – Portfolio committee No 6).
To make it easier, The Bicycle Network has published a summary (Bicyclenetwork.com.au/newsroom/2025/02/22) which I have abbreviated here.
The report has 34 recommendations for e-bikes, e-scooters and other e-mobility devices (EMDs) to better control their uses. It says the trending ‘fat bikes’ that have been altered for illegal speeds were one of the triggers for the inquiry. The report urges the government to crack down on illegal EMDs, allow police to seize illegal EMDs, recommends 15kph on shared footpaths, increased funding for active transport paths, discusses the issues of battery safety, specific parking for EMDs, funding for cycleways, having road knowledge and safety tests for food-delivery riders, education for under-16 riders, mandatory insurance, and to review the government decision to allow higher motor power.
The report writers interviewed an amazing number of appropriate experts and grass roots folk for this document. Have a read. It is thorough.
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. 
