Parramatta Council urges NSW Government to get tough on e-bike riders

A western Sydney council grappling with e-bikes has reissued a plea for a state crackdown on the vehicles which would empower local governments to impose penalties and boost pedestrian safety.

An e-bike rider flies past a pedestrian at Church St, Parramatta.

Parramatta Council has reissued a plea imploring the state government to empower it to issue fines for e-bike riders putting the public’s safety at risk.

Speeding e-bike riders plague the CBD, where they dash past and narrowly dodge pedestrians from Church St to Parramatta Square where most are food delivery drivers and some use illegal e-scooters.

Escalating concerns over safety risks have prompted the council to write to NSW Premier Chris Minns after Greens councillor Judy Greenwood called for regulation of speeding e-bikes and e-scooters on footpaths.

“These micro-mobility options are not a passing fad – they are here to stay,’’ she said.

“They offer sustainable, efficient and affordable alternatives to traditional vehicles but with opportunities come responsibility.’’

E-bike and e-scooter riders at Church St Parramatta.

They are also banned on tramlines.

Westmead resident Steve Quessy implored the council to take action after encountering rogue riders at Parramatta Square and Centenary Square where they regularly weave in and out among pedestrians.

“I am constantly encountering adults riding bikes and e-bikes on non-shared footpaths,’’ he said.

E-bike and e-scooter riders have drawn scrutiny from the public and councils.

“The most egregious offenders are food delivery e-bikes. They just don’t seem to care. Some individuals ride very fast and expect the pedestrian to get out of the way.

“They take no notice if I inform them they are not allowed to ride on the footpath.’’

Mr Quessy called for rental e-bikes and scooters to be banned until “very strict” rules were in place for their use and storage so they weren’t dumped in the middle of paths.

“Riders need education about the rules – some are unaware but even if you point out the rules, most just shrug and keep doing it,’’ he said.

Parramatta Square is often full of e-bikes.

“Their total disregard for rules of safety needs to be stamped out – serious fines might put an end to it.’’

E-bikes are forbidden from footpaths but riders continue to ride on them in Church St since the light rail started operating in December.

Traders in Parramatta’s Church St dining strip witness e-bike riders flouting the rules.

“I’ve got nothing against them but I think there’s too many of them,’’ Lichaa men’s clothing shop owner Anthony Lichaa said.

Lichaa men’s clothing shop owner Anthony Lichaa stays clear of an e-bike.

“They ride all over the place, they think they own the footpath. Some of them have been very aggressive but some of them have been great, so it works both ways.

“They’re doing their work, they’re getting paid for it, they’re keeping the restaurants going.’’

Valore Cellars manager Jamie Gribble has nearly collided with the bikes with a trolley laden with $1000 worth of alcohol.

“They’ll ride past expecting people to get out of their way,” he said.

“I thought for a fair while fines would be a great idea.

“When the stadium’s got a game on and the crowd’s trying to walk it’s a shocker.’’

Jamie Gribble would welcome fines for speeding riders.

There have been two fatalities involving e-bikes in as many years in NSW.

A month-long crackdown on the Northern Beaches ending on July 15 led to 32 fines issued after 28 non-compliant e-bikes were identified after 305 e-bike compliance checks.

The illegal e-bikes failed to comply with current legislation because they had been modified or adjusted.

Cr Greenwood told the council meeting this week despite the government’s release of the e-micromobility action plan in October, there was still “clearly continuing concern” because NSW also had a parliamentary inquiry into the use of e-scooters.

Following unanimous support for her motion, the council will write to the government and also lobby it to introduce a maximum size and weight of an e-bike to reduce risks to pedestrians.

The council’s chief executive Gail Connolly will also prepare a report for the council by December on how to manage bikes and scooters.

Originally published as Parramatta Council urges NSW Government to get tough on e-bike riders