New minimum age for e-bike usage in NSW

A MINIMUM age to ride an e-bike is being introduced in NSW.

Under current NSW Road Rules, a child of any age can ride an e-bike and bicycle riders of any age can carry passengers if the bike’s design allows.

A review led by Transport for NSW will recommend a legal minimum age between 12 and 16 for riding an e-bike in NSW, while also considering whether children and teenagers have the skills, maturity and awareness of potential dangers required to safely carry passengers.

“As part of this review there will be consultation with experts in child development and road safety, including the NSW Office for Youth and Young People, and will listen directly to parents and young people before making a final decision on the appropriate age threshold,” the NSW Government said in a statement.

“Advice and findings will be provided to the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads by June, with the NSW Government to make a final decision on an age limit and passengers.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said, “Police see firsthand the consequences when powerful e-bikes are misused.

“By introducing sensible age settings and cracking down on illegal, high-powered bikes, we are helping police prevent dangerous behaviour before more people are seriously hurt.”

NSW to adopt EU Safety Standard

NSW will also adopt the European safety standard (EN15194) in March this year to ensure e-bikes operate like bicycles, and not motorbikes.

Under this standard, e-bikes must have a maximum power output of 250 watts and power assistance must cut out at 25km/h.

No power assistance is delivered at all after 6km/h if a rider is not pedalling the bike.

The standard also includes strict battery, electrical and fire-safety requirements, as well as anti-tampering protections to prevent power and speed limits being altered.

A three-year transition period will apply.

From 1 March 2029, only e-bikes meeting the European standard will be road legal in NSW.

After a period of consultation, retailers will be required to clearly specify whether a bike meets the EU standard and is therefore road legal in NSW.

Minister for Transport John Graham said, “The adoption of the EU standard is part of building a safe and clear framework of rules around this popular form of transport.

“The community has spoken against souped-up motorbikes masquerading as e-bike and this new standard makes clear that e-bikes must perform like bicycles not motorbikes.”