NSW Police ramp up e-bike crackdown to educate riders about illegal bikes

E-bike riders who have been running circles around the law are being brought to heel and educated about their vehicles, with police aiming to set the record straight about what is and is not legal.

E-bike riders who have been running circles around the law are being brought to heel and educated about their vehicles with NSW Police ramping up operations to crack down on illegal bikes.

Traffic officers have been roaming hotspots across the state to teach riders about the dangers of using electric bikes that have been illegally designed, modified or “jailbroken” following a series of accidents and two fatalities.

The Daily Telegraph was invited to join the Northern Beaches Traffic and Highway Patrol for the final phase of ‘Operation Kilowatt’ on Tuesday in Manly, where police have taken the fight against dodgy e-bikes to the frontline.

During the months-long operation, police checked 305 e-bikes, fined 32 riders, and found 28 bikes had been modified or adjusted to travel faster than the legal limits manufactured within them, which should cut off at 6km/h without pedalling, and 25km/h when pedalling or going downhill.

Additionally, electric bikes can only have a maximum power output of 500 watts.

Operation Kilowatt has cracked down on e-bike riders in the Northern Beaches. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Children as young as 12 riding powerful e-bikes on the road were stopped and asked to explain their vehicle’s limits and modifications, while fellow e-bike riders were offered free vehicle safety checks.

Police crackdown on bikes and e-bikes in Manly

North Command Inspector Martin Searle said education has taken the front seat in enforcement operations to help kids and parents navigate the murky territory between what is legal and illegal.

“We’ve noticed in this area an increase in the use of e-bikes, and it’s certainly a very popular thing with our younger riders, and unfortunately, our younger elements of the community do take risks,” Mr Searle said.

A police crackdown on e-bikes

“Nationally, we have seen an increase in road trauma around e-bike use so it’s a really great opportunity for us … to engage with the community, engage with the local councils, also provide information to the public and increase that safety (knowledge).”

In the last year, high-visibility operations have been carried out across the Sydney CBD, Sutherland Shire, Eastern Suburbs and Byron Bay region with hundreds of fines issued for e-bike offences, with many cyclists simply not wearing helmets.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner David Driver said police were seeing more illegal e-bikes on the road fuelled by misunderstanding.

Cyclists not wearing helmets and using their phones have also been reigned in. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Police have urged parents and kids to learn the rules around e-bikes. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“Legal e-bikes are powered with rechargeable batteries, and the electric motor assists while pedalling up hills. To be compliant, the rider must primarily propel the bike with the pedals,” Mr Driver said.

“(But) police commonly see illegal and modified e-bikes where the motor becomes the primary source of propelling the bike – essentially making it a motorbike.

“Parents need to understand e-bike riders are subject to the same rules as bicycle riders. They need to make sure the e-bike is not unlawfully modified and complies with the law.”

Manly local Heather Heazlewood, 45, welcomed the operations, saying she had seen “multiple incidents of children, dogs … and elderly people almost being hit” by speeding e-bike riders.

Police speak to e-bike riders in Manly

“E-bikes are everywhere … just walking down a footpath you’ll have an e-bike blazing towards you, it’s really dangerous. So this (crackdown) is good,” Ms Heazlewood said.

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Originally published as NSW Police ramp up e-bike crackdown to educate riders about illegal bikes