Northern beaches: Council launces Australia first code for safe use of electric ‘fat bikes’

Concerns that locals could be killed or seriously injured by dangerously ridden electric “fat bikes” has prompted a Sydney council to launch an Australian-first safety code. See the video.

A surge in complaints about “fat bikes” potentially killing or injuring pedestrians has prompted a Sydney council to introduce an Australia-first safety “code” for riders of the electric powered vehicles.

Northern Beaches Council, which is receiving increasing reports of dangerous riding behaviour that could cause “death or injury”, launched the voluntary user code as it lobbies the NSW Government to toughen road rules around e-bikes.

The council has been told that pedestrians had been injured when struck by the bikes and that some riders, on illegally modified machines, were clocked doing more than 40km/h along shared pedestrian paths.

An image from the "E Bike – Know The Code" campaign by Northern Beaches Council, launched on Monday, showing that riders had to be careful on paths shared with pedestrians. Picture: Salty Dingo

NSW Police also confirmed it had received “hundreds of reports and complaints” about e-bikes on the northern beaches, since last July.

Mayor Sue Heins said the code was part of a wide ranging community awareness campaign — launched with an instructive video in Manly on Monday — to improve pedestrian and rider safety, which she hoped would be adopted by other councils across the country.

It includes the three part code:

— Slow down to walking pace when others are on the path

— Ring your bell and call ‘on your right’ to let others know you’re approaching

— Be ready for sudden changes – people, pets and prams can be unpredictable

An image from the "E Bike – Know The Code" campaign by Northern Beaches Council, launched on Monday. Picture: Salty Dingo

Earlier this year the council voted on a motion by Liberal councillor Dave Walton, to arrange a meeting with state government officials and police, to make the bikes safer.

The plea for Transport for NSW to toughen up road rules and regulations around e-bike use on pedestrian paths — and the speed they travel — would be high on the meeting agenda.

Mayor Sue Heins at the launch, at Manly Beach, of the "E Bike – Know The Code" campaign. Cr Heins said “what we’re trying to avoid here is death or injury”. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

Cr Walton’s motion came after the council’s safety audit, conducted in collaboration with Northern Beaches Police, into problems linked to the explosion in the use of e-bikes.

The audit confirmed concerns about the risk of death or serious injury to walkers by the growing use, size and speed of the popular bikes.

A woman, without a helmet, on an e-bike in the pedestrianised area of Sydney Rd, Manly. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Cr Heins said the audit revealed that young people, in particular, were not aware of the road rules “for them to be a good person on a bike”.

“This (safety campaign) is a long time in coming,” Cr Heins said.

“We are deadly serious about this.

“What we’re trying to avoid here is death or injury … it’s only a mater of time.”

“It’s all about making young people start to understand there are three simple ways … they can be on a shared path with others and make us all feel so much more safe”.

Two girls on e-bikes on the shared pedestrian path on Pittwater Rd, Manly. They were wearing helmets Picture: Jim O’Rourke

The NSW Police Highway Patrol, which has already run e-bike rule enforcement campaigns on the northern beaches, and the state’s peak cycling body, Bicycle NSW, backed the campaign.

Inspector Stuart Forbes, of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Northern Sydney Sector Command, described it as a “great initiative” to help protect the safety of bike users and other road users, including pedestrians.

Inspector Stuart Forbes, of the NSW Highway Patrol Northern Sydney Sector Command, at the launch, at Manly Beach. Police have backed he campaign. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

Bicycle NSW CEO Peter McLean said that while e-bikes were “changing the way we commute”, there was a need to “ensure that this change is not just positive but also safe and respectful to all road users” and those using shared pathways.

Students Milly Ristuccia, 16, and Adelaide Yiend, 13, from Stella Maris College Manly, which has taken a proactive stance in urging its students to ride safely and legally, were at the launch.

“You have to careful who is around you when you are riding so everyone is safe,” Adelaide said.

Stella Maris College Manly students, Milly Ristuccia, 16, and Adelaide Yiend, 13, at the launch of the "E Bike – Know The Code" campaign. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

Stella Maris now requires that parents confirm that their daughters who ride e-bikes to school had twice passed practice Learner-driver tests.

Parents have been asked to read the road rules for bicycles with their daughters; lodge the bike’s serial number with the college and; make sure the e-bike’s throttle speed is locked.

Mums and dads must also tell their daughters to wear a helmet

E-bike facts: (Source: Northern Beaches Council)

E-bikes are subject to the same road rules as bicycles. To be considered a bicycle it cannot be propelled exclusively by a motor. In Australia, e-bikes must not assist pedalling past the speed of 25km/h.

Under 16’s are legally allowed to ride on footpaths, and they can be accompanied by an adult.

Bicycle riders must keep to the left on footpaths and give way to pedestrians.

All bicycle riders must have a bell on their bike to warn others of their approach and wear a helmet.

While e-bikes sold in Australia meet the legal requirements, there is currently no quality control over e-bikes purchased and shipped from overseas retailers.

Personal e-scooters cannot legally be ridden on public roads and paths in NSW, only on private property.

Bicycles are not allowed in pedestrian malls such as The Corso at Manly.