Sydney e-bike riders targeted in police crackdown on Manly Corso

Riders of electric bikes and scooters are in the spotlight as police crack down on the increasingly popular transport alternative.

Police are cracking down on e-bike riders in Sydney’s sleepy northern suburbs as demand for the commuter alternative continues to grow.

Northern Beaches Highway Patrol police officers were seen targeting riders on the busy Manly Corso in the early afternoon on Wednesday.

Police stop bike riders on Manly Beach on Wednesday. Picture: Nikki Short

NSW e-bike riders are beholden to the same safety rules as regular bike users. Picture: Nikki Short

The operation is aimed at informing – or warning – users of electric bikes and scooters about the laws.

In NSW, e-bike riders are beholden to the same safety rules as regular bike users, including helmets.

While some e-bikes are capable of reaching speeds up to 100km/h, e-bikes are restricted to travelling no more than 25km/h. Picture: Nikki Short

E-bikes are only allowed to exceed 25km/h if they are travelling downhill. Picture: Nikki Short

While some e-bikes are capable of reaching speeds up to 100km/h, e-bikes are restricted to travelling no more than 25km/h under their own power.

Personal e-bikes, like regular bikes, do not require a licence, but users of public or rideshare e-bikes must be at least 14 years of age.

Likewise, e-scooters used in approved trial areas are capped at 20km/h on bicycle paths and 10km/h on shared paths.

Personal e-scooters are not allowed on the road and are covered under the same laws as motorcycles.

E-scooter trials were undertaken across NSW late last year. Picture: Nikki Short

While shared bikes are allowed in NSW, operators must seek permission from their local government to start a shared bike service.

The popularity of shared electric bike and scooter services has boomed in recent years, with popular programs in place in Canberra and Hobart.

A Canberra man was jailed earlier this month after he was nabbed trying to evade police on an e-scooter travelling more than 100km/h.

The sensational footage was widely shared on online, with police following the man on motorbikes onto bike paths.

Originally published as Sydney e-bike riders targeted in police crackdown on Manly Corso