Northern Beaches residents are invited to a Community Forum on E-Bike Safety hosted by Pittwater State MP Jacqui Scruby and Mackellar Federal MP Sophie Scamps on Thursday 21 August at 6.45pm at Mona Vale Surf Life Saving Club.
E-bikes are an increasingly popular form of sustainable transport, especially among young people, but concerns are growing across Pittwater and the broader Mackellar electorate about high-powered, often illegally modified e-bikes.
“E-bikes are a game-changer in accessible, clean transport – but we have a responsibility to ensure their growing popularity doesn’t come at the cost of people’s safety including the young people riding them and pedestrians who are feeling unsafe,” said Ms Scamps.
“From a federal perspective, I will be pushing for stronger safety standards and import regulations to make sure the bikes our kids are riding are safe and cannot be modified to exceed legal speed limits,” she said.
The forum will bring together local police, school leaders, and advocacy groups including Bicycle NSW and E-Bike Safety Australia, creating space for practical solutions and open discussion.
“E-bikes can be part of a cleaner, healthier future, but only if we get the rules right,” said Ms Scruby. “We need clearer laws, stronger enforcement, and better education to protect both riders and pedestrians.”
Ms Scruby is advocating for urgent state-level reforms to introduce a 10km/h speed limit for e-bikes on footpaths and shared paths, maintain the ban on adults riding on footpaths unless they are accompanying children under 16, prohibit modifications that allow e-bikes to exceed legal speed and power limits, grant police powers to confiscate non-compliant or dangerously operated bikes and support a rollout of a student bicycle licensing programme in local schools.
Recent incidents in Newport, Warriewood, and Mona Vale have highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action, with young riders and pedestrians injured in avoidable collisions.
“This forum is an opportunity for the community to come together, raise concerns, and help shape the changes needed to keep our streets and shared spaces safe,” said Ms Scruby.