The New South Wales Government will introduce a minimum age for riding e-bikes and adopt a European safety benchmark as part of a staged overhaul aimed at tightening safety rules while giving riders time to adjust.
The Minns Labor Government confirmed an expert review led by Transport for NSW will recommend a legal minimum age between 12 and 16. Advice is due to the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads by June, after consultation with child development and road safety specialists, the NSW Office for Youth and Young People, parents and young riders.
At present, children of any age can legally ride an e-bike under NSW road rules. Riders of any age may also carry passengers if the bike is designed for it. Ministers say that gap between regulation and reality has become harder to ignore as e-bike use has grown rapidly across the state.
There are an estimated 760,000 e-bikes in NSW. Supporters argue they offer a practical, low-emissions way to travel short distances and keep people active. Critics point to rising concerns about speed, weight and the risks posed by high-powered devices on shared paths and suburban streets.
E-bikes are typically heavier and capable of travelling faster than traditional bicycles. That can increase stopping distances and the force involved in a crash. Questions have also been raised about young riders managing larger bikes, particularly when carrying passengers.
Transport Minister John Graham said he wanted children outdoors but safe. He noted concern about primary school-aged riders controlling bikes that can outweigh them and about groups of teenagers riding three to a bike on so-called fatbikes.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said officers regularly see the consequences when powerful e-bikes are misused. She said clearer age settings and enforcement powers would help prevent dangerous behaviour before serious injuries occur.
Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said some in the community would prefer no age limits, but the government believes restrictions are warranted. She said the review will weigh evidence about physical and cognitive readiness before any final decision is made.
Alongside the age review, NSW will adopt the European e-bike standard EN15194 from March. Under that benchmark, power output is capped at 250 watts, assistance must cut out at 25 kilometres per hour, and riders must pedal for the motor to engage beyond 6 kilometres per hour. The standard also sets battery, electrical and fire safety requirements and includes anti tampering protections.
The move effectively reverses a 2023 decision by the former Liberal National government to allow 500 watt e-bikes on NSW roads. Ministers argue that change occurred without a broader regulatory framework and opened the door to higher powered devices that operate more like motorbikes than bicycles.
Under the new plan, only e-bikes that meet the European standard will be road legal from 1 March 2029. A three year transition period will apply, reflecting the typical lifespan of an e-bike. That window is intended to give households, retailers and manufacturers time to adjust, particularly those who purchased 500 watt models legally under previous rules.
Retailers will be required to clearly state whether a bike complies with the EU benchmark and is legal for road use in NSW. The government says it will work with manufacturers to ensure future stock aligns with the updated requirements.
The reforms build on earlier measures, including new powers for NSW Police to seize and crush illegal e-bikes and a trial of portable dyno units to test speeds during roadside checks. Updated standards for lithium ion batteries have also been introduced to reduce fire risks linked to e-bikes and e-scooters.
For riders who comply with the rules, the government says little will change in the short term. Compliant bikes remain legal, and the age threshold has yet to be set. For those using high powered models, the clock is now ticking.
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