A man in his 30s has died after his e-bike collided with a garbage truck in Sydney’s CBD early morning on Dec. 2, prompting renewed warnings about e-bike safety across the state.
Emergency services were called to the intersection of Little Regent Street and George Street in Ultimo at about 6 a.m., where officers from Surry Hills, Sydney City, and the Police Transport Command found the rider critically injured.
New South Wales (NSW) Ambulance paramedics attempted to revive him, but he died at the scene.
The driver of the garbage truck, a 28-year-old man, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
In the wake of the fatal crash, NSW Police have urged parents to carefully check the legality and safety of e-bikes ahead of Christmas if they plan to buy them as a present for their children, warning that unsafe, modified or overpowered models continue to put riders at significant risk.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Assistant Commissioner David Driver said people should understand what they are buying before allowing children or teenagers onto the road.
“If you are considering buying an e-bike for Christmas, make sure it complies with NSW law,” he said.
He said police were seeing more bikes illegally fitted with powerful motors or modified to reach higher speeds.
“We need riders to understand the dangers of riding on one wheel, without a helmet or in the dark with no lights,” he said.
Crackdown Reveals Widespread Breaches
The safety warning comes after police ran Operation Trance, a two-day enforcement blitz across Sutherland, St George, south Sydney, and the Eastern Beaches on Nov. 26-27.During the operation, officers stopped 115 e-bikes and issued 176 infringements, alongside more than 100 cautions.
Seven e-scooters were intercepted, resulting in 20 infringements and several cautions. Police also seized two e-bikes and one e-scooter deemed unsafe or non-compliant.
Food-delivery riders were also targeted, with 33 motor scooters pulled over and 28 infringements issued. General bicycle riders were not spared either, with 20 cyclists stopped and served with 14 infringements and four cautions. Officers also issued 114 infringements to other vehicles encountered during the operation.
E-Bike Rules Explained
Under NSW law, e-bike riders must pedal to propel the bike, though it can help the rider go up to 6km/h before pedalling is required. The motor is intended as assistance for hills or headwinds rather than as the main source of power.The maximum legal motor output is 500 watts, and the motor must cut out once the bike reaches 25km/h.
E-bikes that exceed the power limit are considered unregistered and uninsured motor vehicles. Riders and passengers must wear a properly fitted helmet.
Children under 16 may ride on a footpath, as may adults supervising them, unless signage prohibits bicycle use.
Premier Signals Tougher Rules
NSW Premier Chris Minns has confirmed the government is considering lowering the maximum legal power of e-bikes from 500 watts to 250 watts amid growing concern about the speed and power of some models now on the road.“We spent a lot of time on the road in my job, and we see some kids on bikes that are more like motorbikes,” he told 2GB after the crash.
He hinted that under the changes, the highest limit for the bike could be reduced to 25 to 30 kilometres an hour, from 50 to 60 kilometres an hour.
Minns said the government expects to introduce the change via regulation rather than legislation.
Early this year, an English tourist faced a Perth court after riding an e-scooter drunk and causing the death of 51-year-old Thanh Phan. Police allege Alicia Kemp had a blood alcohol level of 0.158 when she struck Phan on May 31.
