Police and Emergency Services Minister Dan Purdie has expressed concern over the alarming rates of non-compliance related to e-bike usage.

“We’re seeing a troubling trend with many e-bikes on our roads and pathways,” Purdie stated. “These high-powered devices, often used without helmets, can reach speeds comparable to motorcycles, which is both illegal and dangerous.”

E-bikes that exceed the legal speed and power limits set for public roads are classified as illegal vehicles if operated outside private property confines.

According to a 2022 report from Bicycle Industries Australia, the importation of e-bikes into the country surged from 9,000 units in 2017 to a staggering 200,000 units by 2022.

“Many youngsters are pressuring their parents to purchase e-bikes for them, especially around Christmas time,” Purdie noted. “With their growing popularity among peers, these bikes are seen as a fun, must-have item.”

Import e-bike standards and compliance

“A lot of children are pestering their parents to buy them [e-bikes] for Christmas, because their friends have them and they are fun.”.

“This suggests that many of these e-bikes are throttle-based or modified and therefore appear to be non-compliant with the legal definition of an e-bike,” they wrote.

Enforcement gaps and difficulties

Authorities also faced difficulties identifying an unlawfully modified e-bike, Delbosc said, adding that bringing in electricians to test battery wattage for every suspected illicit modification would severely strain police resources.

Haghani’s research suggests children account for one in three Australian e-scooter fatalities, although he notes there is still no comprehensive national database to provide an authoritative figure.