New South Wales police will soon be able to seize and destroy illegal ebikes under a fresh state government push to curb high speed riding and what ministers describe as a growing pattern of anti social behaviour on roads and shared paths.
The Minns government says the changes will target modified and overpowered ebikes that fall outside the legal definition of a bicycle.
Under current NSW rules, the eBike motor must not provide assistance once the bike reaches 25 km/h and the rider must pedal for the motor to provide assistance.
Transport Minister John Graham said the new approach would let police take non compliant ebikes off the street and ensure they do not return to use even in cases where an owner bought a bike believing it was legal.
The proposal would extend existing vehicle seizure powers which have typically applied to cars and motorbikes to cover illegal ebikes.
Police are expected to use portable roadside testing devices described as dyno units to measure whether an ebike meets the requirements. Bikes that fail the test could be confiscated and destroyed.
The announcement follows renewed public scrutiny after a widely shared video showed a large group of riders crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge at speed earlier this week, weaving through traffic and performing stunts.
The incident prompted calls for tougher enforcement against devices that look and behave more like electric motorbikes than bicycles.
Road safety groups have backed stronger action, arguing the rapid growth of high powered ebikes has been matched by an increase in serious crashes and injuries.
The NRMA has pointed to rising harm on NSW roads including hundreds of injuries and multiple deaths linked to ebikes in 2025.
Opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward has criticized the pace of the reform, saying the law will not come into force before August and that enforcement should also focus on rider behaviour.
Cycling advocates have urged governments to combine enforcement with clear public education, warning that confusion remains widespread over what is legal at the point of sale.
The government says it aims to keep ebikes legal as a viable transportation option while drawing a hard line on devices that go beyond the rules.
