A minimum age for riders of ebikes will be introduced in New South Wales, with the Minns government commissioning an expert review to advise on an age range between 12 and 16 years.
This follows growing concerns about children using heavier and faster electric bikes on shared paths and roads.
Currently, there is no minimum age to ride a personal ebike in NSW, and riders of all ages can carry a passenger if the bike is designed for this purpose.
The review will be conducted by Transport for NSW, with input from road safety and child development specialists, as well as the NSW Office for Youth and Young People, parents and young riders.
The government hopes that the advice will be provided to the transport and roads ministers by June, before a final decision is made on the age limit and whether children can carry passengers.
In a media release, Transport Minister John Graham said, “We want children to be outdoors and active, but keeping them safe is our top priority.”
The proposed age requirement is part of a wider crackdown on ebike regulations.
As part of the new regulations, NSW Police will have increased powers to confiscate and crush illegal ebikes, while portable testing stations will be trialed to test for compliance on the roadside.
NSW will also revert to the European standard EN15194, which restricts ebikes to 250 watts of continuous rated power and mandates that motor assistance must switch off at 25 km/h.
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A transition period will apply, during which only ebikes that comply with the standard will be legal from 1 March 2029.
Bicycle NSW predicted that an age limit could have unforeseen effects on young people who ride compliant ebikes to school.
The NSW Liberals have also criticized the plan, saying that the government has failed to explain how the age limit will be enforced.
