Cyclist fined more than $1500 for breaking lesser known road rule

Road users have ripped into a cyclist over a frustrating rule he appeared to be breaking.

Cyclist-hating motorists have celebrated the unfortunate downfall of a man fined more than $1500 for flouting a lesser known bike rule.

The rider was stung twice by police in Sydney and on both occasions was fined a hefty $772, totalling a whopping $1544.

He copped both fines in the city’s eastern suburb of Bondi on December 23 at 10.40am – one for using an “unregistered registrable” motor vehicle, and the other for using an “uninsured motor vehicle” on the road.

The steep penalties delighted a select bunch of social media users, who wasted no time in informing the unlucky man he had been struck by NSW’s strict e-bike laws.

While both pedal-assist and electrically power-assisted e-bikes are legally permitted on NSW roads, users must comply with a list of strict rules.

The cyclist was fined more than $1500 for flouting a lesser known bike rule. Picture: Facebook

In both cases, the bikes should predominantly be powered by its user and not exceed a certain level of power when combined with assistance.

Power-assisted pedal cycles shouldn’t have capacity to be powered solely by the motor and shouldn’t be able to generate more than 200 watts or weigh more than 50kg.

They should also have an adjustable seat height.

Electrically-powered bikes must have a maximum power of 500 watts when combined with pedalling, and that power should progressively reduce as its speed increases beyond 6km/h, then cut off at 25km/h.

Cyclists in NSW are bound by strict rules determining how they use e-bikes. Picture: Canva

While it was not clear which bike specifically the man was fined for riding, it was broadly assumed he either had an illegal petrol-powered bike, or an electrical bike that exceeded the legal speed or power limit.

Nonetheless, Sydneysiders were quick to lambaste him for his ignorance, which was highlighted in a post to Facebook made on behalf of him by his friend.

Cyclist-hating motorists were more than happy to get involved in the discussion. Picture: Reddit

“Fully electric (no pedal assist) are illegal to ride in NSW, ignorance is no defence,” one scathing response read.

“Maybe tell your mate to go to Specsavers,” someone else wrote.

“That’s a lot of deliveries to pay that off! Should’ve done the right thing I guess,” another critic said.

“It’s amazing how many think ignorance is a reasonable excuse,” a fourth commented.

Others had slightly more empathy for the cyclist and suggested e-bike rules were just one of many examples of NSW being a nanny state.

“Joke of a country, dunno anywhere else in the world you would cop these insane fines for riding a bike,” one person wrote.

Another simply described the fines “pathetic”.

Originally published as Cyclist fined more than $1500 for breaking lesser known road rule