Northern Beaches Council votes to hold probe into e-bike safety after spike in footpath complaints

A spike in complaints about electric bikes roaring past pedestrians on footpaths has prompted one Sydney council to conduct an urgent safety audit.

Secondary schools students on an e-bike along a shared path on Pittwater Rd, Manly. The council is holding an urgent “safety audit” after councillors fielded a spike in complaints about near collisions with pedestrians. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

A spike in complaints about electric-powered bicycles being ridden at speeds of up 30km/h on pedestrian paths has prompted a Sydney council to hold an urgent “e-bike” safety probe.

Northern Beaches Council voted on Tuesday to conduct the “safety audit” to examine concerns about the risk of death or serious injury to walkers by the growing use, size and speed of the popular bikes.

The audit, a first for a Sydney council, would also examine whether council rangers and police need to crack down on e-bike riders for not wearing helmets, riding on footpaths if they are 16 years or older, and not giving way to pedestrians.

Liberal councillor David Walton, who lodged a notice of motion calling for the probe, said he had been inundated by complaints from residents complaining about nearly being bowled over by e-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards on crowded footpaths and popular beachfront shared bicycle paths.

There are also concerns about e-bike riders, especially children riding to and from school, not wearing helmets and weaving in and out of traffic.

Secondary school students on an e-bike on a shared path in Manly, without helmets, where locals have been complaining about bikes speeding along footpaths at up to 30km/h. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

The council’s Local Traffic Committee, in partnership with police, will conduct an urgent audit of e-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards on shared paths, bike paths, and footpaths.

It will look at issues including speeding; use of speed signs; whether e-bikes should have their own paths and; education campaigns as well as whether the rangers had the appropriate powers to deal with riders flouting the laws.

Secondary school students, without helmets, on an e-bike on a footpath at Queenscliff. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Another councillor, Candy Bingham, told the council meeting that e-bikes being ridden by youths were taking over footpaths and shared bike paths.

Cr Bingham said some riders were not sticking to the regulated 25km/h e-bike speed limit.

“It’s really become a case of dodge the bikes,” Cr Bingham said. “As soon as school comes out … they are almost appearing in packs.

“As they leave school they take over the footpaths and everybody’s got to scurry out of their way. “It’s extremely dangerous.”

Two teenagers, with their helmets dangling, on an e-bike near Queenscliff Beach. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Most of the complaints were centred around the pedestrian path from Manly to Queenscliff beaches and along the harbourside Manly Scenic Pathway from Manly Wharf to Fairlight Beach.

Cr Walton’s motion comes as one local Catholic girls’ school — Stella Maris, Manly — called on parents to warn their children about the dangers of not riding e-bikes safely.

A secondary school student on an e-bike on Pittwater Rd, Manly. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

In a letter to parents, assistant principal Amy Smith wrote the school had been contacted by a resident about a recent incident at South Curl Curl, involving students riding e-bikes, without helmets, almost colliding with cars at a round-a-bout.

“This email is purely to ask parents to have serious conversations with their children regarding road rules and e-bikes, and to insist on helmet use,” Ms Smith wrote.

Secondary schools students, without helmets on an e-bike on Oliver St, Freshwater. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

“We are very concerned that something serious will happen before the message gets through.”

Cr Walton, a former high ranking police officer on the northern beaches, agreed that the increased use of e-bikes, especially on pedestrian paths, could end in tragedy.

He told the council meeting while he was not opposed to e-bikes, they were becoming an increasing risk to pedestrian safety and that he had several near missed while walking on the shared path between Queenscliff and Manly beaches.

A man, wearing things and no helmet, on an e-bike on the shared path along Pittwater Rd, North Manly. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

“This is an emerging issue. There is increased reporting of accidents in the media of young people and old people being hit by e-bikes on footpaths.”

Transport for NSW told the Manly Daily it was important e-bike riders abide by the rules.

“There are existing regulations in place that cap the speed of e-bikes, and riders must keep left and give way to pedestrians on shared paths,” a spokesman said.

THE RULES:

Riders of e-bikes have to follow the same rules as those for standard bicycles including not being allowed on footpaths if aged 16 years and over unless they are an adult supervising a child under the age of 16 or accompanying a child under the age of 16.

E-bike riders must wear a helmet

For e-bikes, the electric motor should not assist the rider when the bike is travelling more than 25km/h.

E-scooters are illegal on NSW roads, footpaths, shared paths and bicycle lanes. They can only be used on private property.

Electric skateboards are not allowed on any public roads and paths unless thy are being used as a mobility aid by a person with a disability.