Sydney E-Bike Near-Miss Sparks Urgent Calls for Government Crackdown on Reckless Riders
A terrifying near-miss between a group of young e-bike riders and a bus on a Sydney transitway has ignited urgent calls for a government crackdown on reckless behaviour. Vision obtained by 7NEWS revealed the group of young riders engaging in a dangerous game of chicken with a bus driver, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision while occupying both lanes of a bus-only road in Sydney’s west.
Community Outcry and Enforcement Concerns
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone expressed that the community is fed-up with such dangerous antics and demanded stronger enforcement before a tragedy occurs. He highlighted frequent complaints from residents about disruptions on the T-Way, major roads, parks, and playgrounds, emphasising that these minors are using the T-Way as a drag strip, which is illegal even for cars.
Carbone pointed out that the problem is escalating due to e-bikes enabling riders to travel further, longer, and faster than traditional bicycles. He criticised the lack of law enforcement, noting a perceived reduction in police presence in the western suburbs, with closed stations and reduced local area commands by the state government hindering efforts to address the issue.
Safety Risks and Legislative Reforms
The mayor warned that e-bikes, while toys for some children, are becoming weapons in the hands of others, risking fatalities or injuries to riders or pedestrians. He compared the situation to allowing young kids to drive cars, stressing the need for similar regulations.
Currently, NSW road rules allow children of any age to ride e-bikes and carry passengers if the bike design permits, with an estimated 760,000 e-bikes across the state. However, last month, the state government announced plans to introduce a minimum age for e-bike riders to address growing safety concerns nationwide.
Upcoming Regulations and National Context
An expert review led by Transport for NSW will recommend a legal minimum age between 12 and 16 for riding e-bikes in NSW, to be implemented by the end of 2026. The review will also assess whether children and teenagers have the necessary skills, maturity, and awareness to safely carry passengers.
As part of broader reforms, the government will adopt a European safety standard for e-bikes, limiting motor power to 250 watts and requiring power assistance to cut out at 25km/h. This new standard will take effect in 2029, allowing current owners time to comply.
Other states are also tightening safety standards. In Queensland, a committee recently delivered 28 recommendations to improve safety amid a skyrocketing number of e-bikes and e-scooters, following a string of devastating crashes that killed 14 people, including children, in 2025 alone.
