A month-long operation in Sydney's Northern Beaches cracking down on illegal e-bikes has seen 28 non-compliant e-bikes identified and 32 fines issued.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command's North Sydney Sector officers conducted six deployments, as part of Operation Kilowatt, from Tuesday 17 June 2025 to yesterday (Tuesday 15 July 2025), focusing on high-visibility enforcement, education, and community engagement at Avalon, Manly, and Dee Why.
Police conducted 305 e-bike compliance checks with 28 illegal e-bikes identified. The illegal e-bikes did not comply with current legislation because they had been modified or adjusted.
Police issued 32 penalty notices for various offences including not wearing a secured helmet or using a mobile phone will riding.
There were 29 warnings given to young people under 14 and 29 young people aged over 14 were issued with official warnings under the Young Offenders Act. More than 30 people aged over 18 were given cautions.
This coincides with similar operations run over the past 12 months, with police deployed to Cronulla, Manly, and Bondi and other locations across the state to educate young people and adults about the dangers of riding illegal and modified e-bikes.
Across the state there have been two fatalities involving e-bikes in the past two years.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said police were aware e-bikes had significantly grown in popularity and some members of the community had raised concerns about them.
"Specific e-bike enforcement operations are conducted in addition to regular patrols. These efforts include enforcement and a focus on educating riders about the difference between legal and illegal e-bikes," Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
"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."
Assistant Commissioner Driver urged parents to make an informed decision if they were considering buying an e-bike for their child.
"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," he said.
"Police commonly see illegal and modified e-bikes where the motor becomes the primary source of propelling the bike – essentially making it a motorbike.
"The use of unlawfully modified e-bikes create a significant risk when used in pedestrian or heavy traffic areas.
"Young people and adults need to understand these risks when riding an e-bike, so they do not become a danger to themselves and others."
Assistant Commissioner Driver reminded parents of the life-saving need for their child to wear an approved helmet, to only ride on a footpath if they are under 16 years of age and to not use their phone to text, use social media or take videos while riding.
Further examples of e-bike police operations in the past year
Infringement notices have been issued for not wearing helmets; exceeding speed restrictions; riding an unregistered/uninsured vehicle and related licence offences; bicycle lane or footpath offences; light traffic offences and pillion rider offences.
- City East Sector:
- Run two local deployments under Operation Trance each month in the CBD, Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, South Sydney and Sutherland Shire.
- In total, there were 372 infringements issued for e-bike offences and 92 cautions.
- There were 161 infringements issued for rental e-bike offences and 29 cautions.
- City South Sector:
- 68 fines and 52 cautions as part of operations in March and April 2025.
- Sutherland Shire Police Area Command:
- Operation in Cronulla, Caringbah, Greenhills Beach, Gymea, Miranda, Menai, Sutherland, Sylvania and Woolooware.
- 26 fines issued and four infringements issued.
- Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command:
- Operations in Bondi Beach, Bondi, Bondi Junction, and Waverley.
- There were 89 fines issued and 34 cautions made to people under 16.
- Far North Sector:
- Operations in the Tweed and Byron Bay areas.
- At least one e-bike/e-motorcycle offender detected per week.
E-bike rules
- Rider must primarily propel the bike with the pedals.
- Motors are intended to assist when riding uphill or into headwind, not as the primary source of propulsion.
- An electrically power-assisted cycle can only have a maximum power output of 500 watts.
- The electric motor must cut off when the bicycle reaches 25km/h.
- The electric motor should not assist the rider when travelling more than 25km/h but does not prevent the rider travelling faster with their own pedalling or going downhill.
- The motor can be used up to 6km/h before the rider must pedal.
- Illegal e-bikes are not able to be registered in NSW and are therefore unregistered and uninsured motor vehicles.
- All riders and passengers must wear approved helmets that are securely fitted and fastened.
- Only children under 16 years of age or adults accompanying a child under 16 can ride on a footpath, unless there are signs prohibiting bicycle riding.
- Riders need to keep to the left and give way to pedestrians on shared paths or footpaths.
- Mobile phones must be hands free or secured in a commercially manufactured phone holder fixed to the bike.
- It is illegal to text, make video phone calls, use social media, or take photos/videos while riding.
- Visit Transport for NSW e-bike website for more information.
Fines
- $818 for illegal e-bike use.
- $410 for not wearing an approved helmet.
- $410 for holding a mobile phone.
- Riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol can lead to fines or imprisonment.
- Penalties apply for negligent or dangerous riding.
