Council launches campaign after hundreds of complaints
Northern Beaches Police are cracking down on the illegal use of e-bikes, ‘with a focus on enforcement action in order to support increased public safety’.
NB Police Area Command Superintendent Patrick Sharkey said that issues concerning the safe operation of e-bikes had been raised via a number of forums with police, including by ‘multiple’ school principals. In response to ‘hundreds of complaints’ and ‘near misses’ between e-bikes and pedestrians, council is launching a community education campaign in May.
Mayor Sue Heins told Peninsula Living Pittwater: ‘‘The prevalence of e-bikes on our shared pathways, roads and footpaths is increasing and is a challenge for public safety.”
Spt Sharkey said that Beaches Police and Highway Patrol conducted ‘multiple public safety operations’ in 2023/24 on e-bikes.
“These operations will continue in 2025 with a focus on enforcement action in order to support increased public safety,” he said.
“Enforcement action can be taken when an e-bike is being used on a road. Riders under the age of 16 are dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.”
E-bikes must not be powered entirely by a motor and must not travel over 25kph. Breaking the rules invokes a fine of $723 or more. E-bikes operate under the same road rules as bicycles, so riding across a pedestrian crossing is not allowed and only riders up to 16 years of age are allowed to ride on the footpath.
In a 2023 e-bike and e-scooter audit, the council and local police found that many e-bike riders didn’t wear a helmet and travelled at a speed of over 40kph.
“As a result, council wrote to the State Government asking them to to review the relevant road rules to protect pedestrians, riders and motorists from e-bike accidents.”
Spt Sharkey said the onus of supervision was on parents. “It is incumbent upon parents to provide supervision and guidance to their children in order to ensure that they are riding in a manner that is safe for themselves and the public; and that they are complying with legal requirements.”
Mayor Heins said council wants the government to control the importation of non-compliant bikes and introduce a way of identifying them.