Australians seem to love – and hate – e-bikes. This year, they are forecast to buy over a quarter of a million e-bikes, at around $4,500 each. E-bikes are good for reducing urban congestion and fuel costs, and for ‘last mile’ deliveries. But what’s being done to encourage e-bikes while stemming the tide of injuries and deaths?
Australians are buying e-bikes
Australians are tipped to buy 250,000 to 300,000 e-bikes this year, at a substantial cost of $4,500 each. It’s easy to see why. They are fun to ride, help reduce urban congestion and fuel costs, while easing ‘last mile’ deliveries.
Legal e-bikes (pedelecs or ‘pedal electric cycles’) are no more risky than conventional bicycles. Their power is limited to 250 watts, with a maximum pedalling speed of 25 kmph. Yet, in 2025, more than 15 people died and e-bikes contributed to hundreds of injuries in Australia. Travelling at 10 kmph only, they are heavy enough to cause serious harm in a crash.
What are we doing to encourage e-bikes while minimising harm to riders and pedestrians?
What’s next for e-bikes in New South Wales?
The NSW government is currently exploring mandatory insurance for privately owned e-bikes. Many riders don’t realise they could be personally liable if they cause serious injury.
Since 1 February 2026, e-bikes have to meet 2 new standards:
- Certified batteries and motors – to prevent fires
- Reduced power limit – from 500W to 250W.
From 1 March 2029, only EU-compliant e-bikes (EN 15194) will be legal in NSW.
A Transport for NSW review may recommend setting the legal minimum age to ride an e-bike between 12 and 16 years. It will also consider whether children and teenagers can carry passengers safely.
In NSW, no adult on any kind of bicycle is supposed to ride on the pavement unless they are supervising a child under 16.
What’s next for e-bikes in Queensland?
The Qld government recently held a parliamentary inquiry into e-bikes and other types of e-mobility. It recommends:
- a ban on riders under 16
- riders over 16 hold at least a learner licence
- lower footpath speed limits of 10 kmph
- stronger powers for police to seize illegal e-bikes
- registration and insurance for non-compliant e-bikes.
If Qld does mandate a learner licence, it could be as unpopular as New Jersey – the first jurisdiction in the world to do this.
Currently, 12–15-year-olds are allowed to ride e-bikes under close adult supervision. However, schools in Queensland will ban e-bikes on school grounds this year.
What’s next for e-bikes in Victoria?
Victoria has recently introduced restrictions on e-bikes around public transport:
- From early 2026, modified or converted e-bikes are banned on Metro and V/Line trains (but factory-built models are not).
- E-bikes can’t be charged, ridden, or turned on at stations or on platforms.
Police are focusing on over-powered bikes (>250 watts), lack of helmets, and riding on footpaths. This year, Victorian schools have also introduced bans on e-bikes on school grounds.
What’s next for e-bikes in Western Australia?
The WA government announced children under 16 cannot store or ride e-bikes at public schools.
Rather than set its own rules, the WA government wants the Federal Government to take immediate national action on e-bikes. For example, it supports anti-tampering measures and a clear way of distinguishing between compliant and non-compliant e-bikes.
See more about green slips for e-bikes.
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