State government urged to change laws after e-bikes hit 42km/h on northern beaches’ shared pedestrian paths
Changes to state government laws have been urged after e-bikes were found to be illegally speeding at up to 42km/h on shared pedestrian paths in Sydney.
Manly
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Electric-powered bicycles are being ridden at speeds of more than 40km/h on shared pedestrian paths on the northern beaches, results of a safety probe have revealed.
E-bike rider were clocked at an astonishing 42km/h on the pathway, also used by walkers, along the Manly beachfront.
The speed limit for cars on the adjoining roadway — North Steyne — is just 30km/h.
And the most complained about riders, according to the e-bike safety audit and survey conducted by Northern Beaches Council, were those aged under 16.
Most complaints have been centred around the shared pedestrian path from Manly to Queenscliff beaches and along the harbourside Manly Scenic Pathway from Manly Wharf to Fairlight Beach.
Since the beginning of the year the council has received more than 40 complaints about electric-powered “micro-mobility devices”.
In March the council voted to conduct the audit of e-bikes, electric scooters and other devices using shared paths, bike paths and footpaths.
It came after a spike in complaints from pedestrians about being nearly run down at high speeds. The audit examined concerns about the risk of death or serious injury to walkers by the growing use, size and speed of the popular bikes.
A first for a Sydney council, it also looked at 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; speed limits and; not giving way to pedestrians.
At its meeting on Tuesday night the council will vote whether to urge Roads Minister John Graham, and his department, to review road rules around the use of e-bikes and e-scooters and “make any necessary changes to improve public safety”.
It will also consider submitting a motion to the Local Government NSW 2023 annual conference seeking the development of a “community awareness and safety campaign to improve pedestrian and rider safety in respect of e-bikes”.
Deputy mayor David Walton, who lodged the original a notice of motion, said he and fellow Liberal councillor Georgia Ryburn will add a motion that regulations be improved to allow police, and possibly council rangers, to better regulate the speed of e-bikes and to stop the tampering of e-bike controls to allow them to go faster.
The audit found that on the Manly beachfront, the average speed of e-bikes was 16km/h “ however there were several occasions, particularly on the weekend when the peak speed, 42km/h, was reached”.
Cr Walton, a former high ranking police officer on the northern beaches, said before the council meeting that state regulations and laws had not kept up with the new technology.
Council Rangers cannot regulate the use of e-bikes on footpaths, or other road-related areas, unless there is specific signage erected in a public place.
“We are leading other councils, and the state government, in addressing the safety risks around e-bikes.
“We want to contact the minister and Transport for NSW and encourage an improvement to the regulations so that we can better enforce e-bike safety compliance.
“We also want to put it on the Local Government NSW Conference Agenda for all councils to support our position.”
Another councillor, Candy Bingham, said it had “become a case of dodge the bikes”.
The council was also advised that its staff were reviewing it current “bike plan” to work out if more separated cycleways on roads were feasible.
Staff were also looking at options to provide pavement signage to make riders aware of high pedestrian areas.
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 they are being used as a mobility aid by a person with a disability.
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