New South Wales police are set to crack down on cyclists who modify their e-bikes to exceed the legal speed limit. As part of a government crackdown, authorities will seize and destroy any ebike that does not cut power assistance at 25km/h.
The NSW transport minister, John Graham, announced the new laws, which will apply to all illegally modified bikes – even if the owner was unaware their ebike was non-compliant. The move aims to remove high-powered cars and motorbikes from the road, but it also applies to e-bikes, with police to be given powers to seize and destroy any bike that breaks the rules.
The government has invested in a number of "dyno units" – portable speed-testing devices – to measure an ebike's power output. The move is seen as a response to community concern about "souped-up ebikes" and the antisocial behaviour associated with them, with Graham saying that riders who break the rules will expect their bike to be removed from their possession and crushed.
The laws are modeled on those currently in place in Western Australia, where police have confiscated and crushed dozens of bikes. The NSW government said Transport for NSW and NSW Police will develop the laws, which will ensure ebikes behave as bicycles, not motorbikes.
Opposition figures have criticized the move, saying it is a "slow, reactive and bureaucracy-first approach" to addressing rider behaviour. The deputy opposition leader, Natalie Ward, called on the government to deliver license plates, enforcement, and accountability, rather than just cracking down on bike owners.
The new laws are part of a broader package of reforms aimed at ensuring ebikes are safe, legal, and fit for use on public roads and paths. Further measures will be announced in coming weeks, including a reduction in the maximum legal power output of e-bikes to 250 watts.
The NSW transport minister, John Graham, announced the new laws, which will apply to all illegally modified bikes – even if the owner was unaware their ebike was non-compliant. The move aims to remove high-powered cars and motorbikes from the road, but it also applies to e-bikes, with police to be given powers to seize and destroy any bike that breaks the rules.
The government has invested in a number of "dyno units" – portable speed-testing devices – to measure an ebike's power output. The move is seen as a response to community concern about "souped-up ebikes" and the antisocial behaviour associated with them, with Graham saying that riders who break the rules will expect their bike to be removed from their possession and crushed.
The laws are modeled on those currently in place in Western Australia, where police have confiscated and crushed dozens of bikes. The NSW government said Transport for NSW and NSW Police will develop the laws, which will ensure ebikes behave as bicycles, not motorbikes.
Opposition figures have criticized the move, saying it is a "slow, reactive and bureaucracy-first approach" to addressing rider behaviour. The deputy opposition leader, Natalie Ward, called on the government to deliver license plates, enforcement, and accountability, rather than just cracking down on bike owners.
The new laws are part of a broader package of reforms aimed at ensuring ebikes are safe, legal, and fit for use on public roads and paths. Further measures will be announced in coming weeks, including a reduction in the maximum legal power output of e-bikes to 250 watts.
I mean, I get why they want to keep things safe and all, but it feels like an overreach, ya know? Like, who gets to decide what's "reasonable" for these ebikes anyway? It seems like a lot of hassle for people just trying to enjoy their ride. 
And what about the community concerns about "souped-up ebikes"? Shouldn't they be focusing on educating people about proper bike maintenance and safety instead of taking away their property rights? 
Anyway, here's an article that goes into more detail: 
What about riders who didn't even know their bike was modified to go faster than 25km/h? It's like, they're not trying to be naughty, they just made a mistake. And what's with all these "dyno units" - isn't that just gonna add more red tape and hassle for people? 
I think the government should focus on education and proper regulations instead of being so heavy-handed.
I think it's kinda harsh to just destroy their ebike if they didn't even know it was modified that much. Like, isn't there some way to fine or something instead? Interest 
Just think about it, if you're gonna ride an e-bike fast, don't own one! 
they wanna seize nd destroy ebikes thats like total overkill! wat about ppl who dont even know ther ebike is modified?!?! 
its not like theyre gonna just let it go or nothin... & whats w/ da dyno units? cant dey jus use a speedometer or somethin? 
. what if you buy an ebike and it already comes with some mods, does the gov just assume youre a bad person? 
seems like an over reaction to what i'd say is a relatively minor issue... 
It just feels like they're setting up some new excuse for bike owners to be hassled and fined unnecessarily. And what's with the whole "destroying bikes" thing? Like, that's not how you address a problem, dude. 
I mean, can't we just educate people on proper ebike maintenance and safety instead of resorting to drastic measures like destruction of property? 
... i mean, i get it, safety first and all that, but come on, who modifies their ebike to exceed the speed limit in the first place? 
... seizing and destroying bikes that are barely broken is just cruel 
. what about the owners who didn't even know their bike was non-compliant?! 
. let's hope they actually do come up with some decent bike safety measures that don't involve crushing people's property 
.
... how reliable are they really going to be? I mean, have they been tested and proven to accurately measure power output? And what happens if they're wrong? 
They're gonna start fining you for breathing out too much CO2 or something 
. Like, if someone wants to upgrade their ebike with some more powerful gears or suspension, shouldn't they be allowed to do so? 
.
And what about the cyclists who can't afford to get their ebikes modified or replaced? It's like they're being punished for not having the means to follow the rules... 