This follows the NSW Opposition’s commitment to overhaul the current regulatory framework governing e-bikes and introduce a compulsory, low-cost identification scheme for riders under 18, shared services such as Lime and those using e-bikes for commercial purposes.
The proposal would provide police and the public with a practical means of identifying problem riders and following up complaints relating to dangerous or illegal behaviour. It would also be supported by a statewide education campaign delivered through schools.
“E-bikes offer enormous benefits and there are plenty of responsible riders doing the right thing. But like any high-powered road vehicle, there need to be sensible rules to keep both riders and pedestrians safe,” Mr Griffin said.
“Local residents have made it clear to me that they’re fed up with witnessing dangerous behaviour and having to dodge young people operating what are effectively high-powered motorbikes through busy pedestrian areas.”
Despite repeated calls from the Opposition, Northern Beaches residents, medical practitioners and the Northern Beaches Council, Mr Griffin said the Minns Labor Government had failed to provide police and local authorities with the tools needed to deal with problem riders.
“At the moment there is very little oversight, no insurance requirements or age limits, limited enforcement powers and virtually no deterrent for those who choose to do the wrong thing,” Mr Griffin said.
“Earlier this year, the Government announced powers for police to seize and crush illegal e-bikes but failed to provide any practical mechanism for identifying them in the first place.”
“In May, the Opposition sought to strengthen the law by moving amendments to enable police to seize any e-bike where a rider’s behaviour fell short of community standards, including dangerous, reckless and intimidating conduct.”
“Those amendments were blocked by the Minns Labor Government and the Greens, dealing a major blow to communities that have been calling for stronger action.”
In practice, this now means that if a Police officer observes a group of minors riding dangerously on e-bikes and intimidating the public, the officer will first have to successfully manage to stop the riders to inspect their device to determine if it is legal. If the officer does manage to stop the riders and their bike is legal, then there is nothing the officer can do. This is simply not practical.
Following a serious hit-and-run incident involving an e-bike rider and a pedestrian in Beacon Hill, Pedestrian Council of Australia Chief Executive Officer Harold Scruby issued a statement arguing that compulsory number plates and insurance were essential.
“This incident is a textbook illustration why mandatory number plates and compulsory third-party insurance for e-bikes are not optional policy refinements – they are a basic protection for innocent road users. Without them, victims are left dependent on the goodwill of bystanders and their own resources to pay for the damages (often catastrophic), while offenders simply ride away,” Mr Scruby said.
The NSW Opposition’s license plate scheme would give police and the public a way to identify whether an e-bike is legal and allows complaints and reports of dangerous behaviour by commercial and under 18 riders to be properly investigated.
The proposal comes off the back of Mr Griffin’s e-bike survey which received over 800 responses with the overwhelming majority favouring a license plate scheme. It also follows extensive consultation by the NSW Opposition, including a Parliamentary inquiry into e-bike safety. Councils, police and community groups raised concerns about the risks posed by unregulated e-bike use and the difficulty of enforcing rules when riders cannot be identified.
Commonsense e-bike reforms are long overdue, but the Minns Labor Government continues to ignore calls for meaningful measures that will deter dangerous riding. New South Wales deserves a Government that is able to move at the speed of the problem.
Last modified: June 25, 2026
