E-Bike Safety Education Pop-up at Avalon Beach
Independent Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby joined Council representatives and NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol Officers at a community pop-up event in Avalon on Tuesday June 17, aimed at promoting e-bike safety and encouraging responsible riding across the peninsula.
“Two weeks ago, I used Question Time to pressure the NSW Government to address illegal e-bikes and the risks they pose to riders and pedestrians. It’s great that we finally have a police presence in Pittwater addressing e-bike safety.'
“I’m pushing for reform of e-bike laws, already many e-bikes are illegally modified. I’m supporting education ahead of enforcement.”
The joint initiative brought together residents, young riders, and parents for practical, face-to-face advice about e-bike laws, road rules, and safe riding practices. Police officers were on hand to answer questions, while Ms Scruby spoke with families about the importance of keeping local footpaths, roads, and shared spaces safe for everyone.
“E-bikes and scooters are a great way for young people to get around Pittwater - but they must be used safely and legally,” said Ms Scruby.
“We’ve had growing concerns from residents about young riders, speeding on footpaths, riding without helmets and non-compliant bikes. This was about education, not enforcement, helping people to understand the rules and feel confident riding safely.”
Ms Scruby is calling for the government to address e-bike legislation loopholes in upcoming reforms. Currently in NSW police can’t fine children under the age of 16 who are riding illegally modified bikes, nor their parents, who are another key group who are riding illegal e-bikes.
“The NSW Government needs to address loopholes that limit enforcement on children and their parents / carers under 16 years old, limit speeds to 10km/hr on footpaths, require riders to know the road rules with a licensing scheme for under 16s and compulsory insurance and proper data collection.
“It’s not good enough to say ‘it’s too hard' - we need to learn from the mistakes of other states and get this right. We want e-bikes but with safety guardrails.”
Ms Scruby notes that this is also a federal issue.
“I have written Dr Sophie Scamps to request that loopholes relating to importation are closed and Australian design rules are updated. E-bikes that can be modified or unlocked with a code shouldn’t be allowed into the country to start with.” the MP for Pittwater said
Ms Scruby called on the government to regulate and enforce e-bikes in a Private Members Statement in March this year.
“Whether you love them or hate them – and in Pittwater, people tend to feel strongly either way – e-bikes are everywhere, and the NSW Government has indicated that they’re staying,” said Ms Scruby.
“But the current lack of regulation and enforcement is creating real safety risks and I’m concerned the government doesn’t have sufficient appetite for reform. Both pedestrian safety and rider safety is a risk.
“Most e-bike users ride responsibly, however, it’s not uncommon to see children as young as 10 riding unregistered, unlicensed, and heavily modified e-bikes without helmets. Many can reach speeds over 50 km/h – that’s no longer a bicycle, it’s a motorcycle -yet current road rule breaches are not being enforced.
“If I jumped on a motorbike with no licence, no rego and no helmet, I’d be pulled over and charged. Yet a blind eye is turned when this occurs on a modified e-bike. It’s no excuse to say that it’s a grey legal area,” said Ms Scruby.
Recent incidents in the Pittwater area include a nine-year-old boy knocked unconscious while riding without a helmet, two other boys hospitalised following e-bike accidents, a 14-year-old pedestrian hit in Frenchs Forest and a 7 year old child struck in Mona Vale. Ms Scruby has also received countless reports from residents who no longer feel safe on footpaths.
“We can’t ignore the risks and tragedies and need to learn from other jurisdictions. We need to get the balance right.”
