Elderly Australians clash with youths on e-bike in 'battle of the beaches'
Video of the encounter has reignited debate about the rules of increasingly popular e-bikes, and those who flout them.
A feisty row has erupted on the streets of an affluent seaside suburb between a pair of youths on an e-bike and a crew of cranky elderly Australians. Footage has emerged of the moment two boys riding on an electric bicycle in Mona Vale, on Sydney's Northern Beaches, clashed with a trio of older locals over an unknown disagreement.
The footage, recorded outside of the Dental Implant Centre on Park Street, shows the teens cop a dressing down from the older group, and though viewers aren't able to hear exactly what they're arguing about, it's believed the conflict was sparked by the fact the boys were riding the e-bike on a footpath.
In the state, cyclists — on an electric bike or otherwise — generally shouldn't be riding on footpaths, unless they meet a certain set of criteria, according to Transport for NSW (TfNSW). Cyclists should stick to designated bicycle lanes except when they're under the age of 16, when riding on footpaths is allowed. However the exception does not stand when a 'no bicycles' sign is in place.
In the video, a boy is seen sitting idly on the bike's front seat, while a second youngster sits behind him. A man and two women are seen in the video encircling the two boys, with their muffled yells faintly audible above the traffic sounds.
The three point and flail their arms about in their apparent frustration, clearly unimpressed by the teens' behaviour. At one point, one man even obstructs the bicycle, gripping the handlebar and preventing it from moving forward.
While it's unclear why the elderly group are so incensed, the footage jokingly dubbed "the battle of the beaches" sparked a strong reaction online and comes as locals in multiple beachside council areas have flooded authorities with complaints about people flouting the rules while riding e-bikes, The Sydney Morning Herald reported in March.
"Some of these e-bikes are quite large and if some young people are doubling or tripling, the bikes are turning into 150 to 200 kilograms moving at high speeds. If they hit a pedestrian … it’s likely to result in significant injuries to the pedestrian and the possibility of deaths," Northern Beaches councillor and ex-police officer David Walton told the publication at the time.
The bikes, which have wide wheels enabling them to be driven on sand are popular in California with the trend increasingly catching on Down Under, with Aussies forking out thousands of dollars for the electric powered vehicles.
Last month, NSW police were spotted in Sydney's northern suburbs targeting e-bike riders in an apparent blitz.
Aussies appear divided on e-bike etiquette
By the end of the video, a crowd forms around the two groups, with at least one person to come to the side of the youths.
Speculation over what occurred prior to filming was rampant amount responders online. "It’s illegal to ride on the footpaths and many do it at 50kms an hour," one person claimed.
"Look, I don't know what happened, but yesterday a kid similar to these guys were zooming on a e-bike at a dog park, almost hit us, no bells or anything and off the path. If you have these just stay on the road," implored a second person.
Meanwhile others leapt to the defence of the teenagers.
"Don’t mess with the 'Bayview Boomers'. Rich, entitled and extremely opinionated," one Aussie joked. "The poking from grandad and the pamphlet slaps from grandma would take some self control to not lose my cool," another agreed.
"Kids are much more polite and tolerant than we were at that age," somebody else wrote. "Send them early to their appointment upstairs," another cheeky responder commented.
Based on the legislation and the footage, it's not immediately clear if there is any offence being committed in the video. Yahoo News has contacted TfNSW for their view on the matter.
E-bike rules in NSW
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.
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