Cops crack down on e-bike riders
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.
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 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.
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.
