2025 Crackdown on illegal e-bike riders: 32 Local riders fined - Operation Kilowatt
Wednesday, 16 July 2025
NSW Police state a month-long operation in Sydney’s northern beaches cracking down on illegal e-bikes has seen 28 non-compliant e-bikes identified and 32 fines issued.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command’s North Sydney Sector officers conducted six deployments, as part of Operation Kilowatt, from Tuesday 17 June 2025 to Tuesday 15 July 2025, focusing on high-visibility enforcement, education, and community engagement at Avalon, Manly, and Dee Why.
See: E-Bike Safety Education Pop-up at Avalon Beach
Police conducted 305 e-bike compliance checks with 28 illegal e-bikes identified. The illegal e-bikes did not comply with current legislation because they had been modified or adjusted.
Police issued 32 penalty notices for various offences including not wearing a secured helmet or using a mobile phone will riding.
There were 29 warnings given to young people under 14 and 29 young people aged over 14 were issued with official warnings under the Young Offenders Act. More than 30 people aged over 18 were given cautions.
This coincides with similar operations run over the past 12 months, with police deployed to Cronulla, Manly, and Bondi and other locations across the state to educate young people and adults about the dangers of riding illegal and modified e-bikes.
Across the state there have been two fatalities involving e-bikes in the past two years.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said police were aware e-bikes had significantly grown in popularity and some members of the community had raised concerns about them.
“Specific e-bike enforcement operations are conducted in addition to regular patrols. These efforts include enforcement and a focus on educating riders about the difference between legal and illegal e-bikes,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
“Legal e-bikes are powered with rechargeable batteries, and the electric motor assists while pedalling up hills. To be compliant, the rider must primarily propel the bike with the pedals.”
Assistant Commissioner Driver urged parents to make an informed decision if they were considering buying an e-bike for their child.
“Parents need to understand e-bike riders are subject to the same rules as bicycle riders. They need to make sure the e-bike is not unlawfully modified and complies with the law,” he said.
“Police commonly see illegal and modified e-bikes where the motor becomes the primary source of propelling the bike – essentially making it a motorbike.
“The use of unlawfully modified e-bikes create a significant risk when used in pedestrian or heavy traffic areas.
“Young people and adults need to understand these risks when riding an e-bike, so they do not become a danger to themselves and others.”
Assistant Commissioner Driver reminded parents of the life-saving need for their child to wear an approved helmet, to only ride on a footpath if they are under 16 years of age and to not use their phone to text, use social media or take videos while riding.
However, residents of Avalon Beach, Mona Vale and Narrabeen have continued to witness e-bikes being used in an unsafe manner and at speeds which would indicate they have been illegally modified.
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby is calling for stronger education and action to stop the import of illegal e-bikes, following the recent crackdown that saw 28 non-compliant e-bikes identified by police.
“This issue has well and truly landed on our doorstep. E-bikes are incredibly popular in Pittwater, especially with young people, but many riders and parents simply don’t know the rules,” Ms Scruby said.
Ms Scruby recently partnered with local police at a pop-up education session in Avalon, where officers gave advice and answered questions, without issuing fines.
“Our approach in Pittwater has been education first. Families need a chance to understand the law before enforcement kicks in. But the recent operation shows police are stepping up patrols, and people riding illegal or modified e-bikes risk serious penalties.”
Ms Scruby is advocating for better state-wide education and tighter controls on the import and sale of high-powered, non-compliant e-bikes.
“Many of these bikes are bought online and arrive with motors that make them illegal to ride on our roads and paths. They are not safe, they are not insurable, and often the buyer has no idea. We need to stop these bikes at the source.”
She encouraged all riders to check their bikes, follow the road rules and always wear a helmet.
“This is not about punishing kids. It’s about preventing accidents and giving families the information they need to make safe, legal choices.”
Council, under the leadership of Mayor Sue Heins, has been actively addressing concerns related to e-bike safety and usage. The council has initiated a community awareness campaign and advocated for changes to state regulations following a rapid increase in e-bike use and associated safety issues.
At the July 15 2025 council meeting Mayor Sue Heins tabled a Mayoral Minute seeking a resolution to participate in Bicycle NSW’s Student Bicycle Licence Scheme to help improve bike rider safety and awareness as an interim response to the ongoing E-bike concerns raised by the community and work with local schools within the local government area on its uptake.
Some schools are already implementing a School Bike Licence, which is required to be attached to the students' bicycle - although these have so far taken a simple form where the only 'rules' are students must wear a helmet, and dismount once on school grounds then walk their bike to the school located bike racks, and take into account pedestrian safety if using a footpath.
Ms Heins has recently been speaking to young Mona Vale resident Tilly Cooper, the young lady behind the swimwear for Fijian youngsters clothes drive, about an e-bike safety course for teens. E-Bike Safety Australia has written a course that teaches young riders how to ride safely, follow the rules, and take responsibility when crossing roads. This can be completed online.
Bicycle NSW states they are working towards trialling a schools’ digital student bicycle licence with several partner councils.
The Bicycle NSW’s Student Bicycle Licence Scheme is a digital licence which students would receive on their phones once they correctly complete a series of questions. The questions, around 15 in number, would be based around road rules relevant to bicycle riding, safety and etiquette. The cost to the council, with Bicycle NSW seeking to partner with at least 3 other councils, will be around 3.5 thousand dollars.
Mayor Heins' proposal was passed by the council, however, on the same date, former Liberal Party members De Luca and Singh, along with Narrabeen Councillor Giltinan submitted a Notice of Motion to Rescind Council's Resolution made on 15 July 2025 in respect of Item 7.1 - Mayoral Minute No 7/2025 - Student Bicycle Licence Scheme.
In the event the rescission motion is carried, the proposed alternate motion is:
''In the interests of transparency, good governance and noting that another organisation is already running a similar program for free in the Sutherland Local Government Area, that Council calls for expressions of interest and report the matter back to Council in September.''
Further examples of e-bike police operations in the past year
Infringement notices have been issued for not wearing helmets; exceeding speed restrictions; riding an unregistered/uninsured vehicle and related licence offences; bicycle lane or footpath offences; light traffic offences and pillion rider offences.
- City East Sector:
Run two local deployments under Operation Trance each month in the CBD, Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, South Sydney and Sutherland Shire.
In total, there were 372 infringements issued for e-bike offences and 92 cautions.
There were 161 infringements issued for rental e-bike offences and 29 cautions.
- City South Sector:
68 fines and 52 cautions as part of operations in March and April 2025.
- Sutherland Shire Police Area Command:
Operation in Cronulla, Caringbah, Greenhills Beach, Gymea, Miranda, Menai, Sutherland, Sylvania and Woolooware.
26 fines issued and four infringements issued.
- Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command:
Operations in Bondi Beach, Bondi, Bondi Junction, and Waverley.
There were 89 fines issued and 34 cautions made to people under 16.
- Far North Sector:
Operations in the Tweed and Byron Bay areas.
At least one e-bike/e-motorcycle offender detected per week.
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.
Visit Transport for NSW's e-bike webpage for more information.
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.