Independent Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby is calling for the NSW Government to tackle e-bike safety with comprehensive reforms, including education, licensing, registration and insurance.
“This week’s state and federal announcements on e-bike regulations are small but significant steps towards a long term solution. But let’s not kid ourselves, these measures will take time and rely on federal resourcing of border controls to stop illegal or potentially illegal bikes being imported.”
“In the meantime, changing NSW legislation to cap e-bikes at 250W instead of 500W isn’t going to fix the problems we are currently facing. Let’s be realistic - we already have 600,000 eBikes. This includes many 1000W bikes bought as ‘offroad’ being driven onroad, and 500W bikes that are unlocked and being ridden illegally, exceeding speed limits.
“We need to tackle rider responsibility, rider education and enforcement if we want to tackle e-bike safety. Parents, riders and pedestrians all want safe streets. While the NSW Government’s decision- to reverse the previous government’s decision to allow 500W bikes and align with other states - is a step in the right direction, it doesn’t go far enough.
“NSW should lead the way with eBike licensing and registration. Like a boat licence, an eBike licence should require riders to undertake licencing and registration. This is the only way to ensure accountability and help enforcement, together with insurance to protect those who are injured in an accident.”
Ms Scruby welcomed grandfathering of the NSW wattage cap, but slammed the government for springing this reform on local shopfront retailers who will be left with stock they can’t sell.
“Reform needs to ensure that small business retailers don’t have their business decimated by regulatory change and that physical stores aren’t unfairly targeted. I have a responsible retailer in my electorate and this latest announcement warning parents not to buy a 500W bike leaves him with a shop full of stock without purchasers.”
Ms Scruby also noted that illegal eBike use, like so many issues in Pittwater, is the result of failed Liberal Policy.
“Rob Stokes made NSW the only state with a 500W definition and Baranby Joyce allowed illegal bikes to be imported into Australia. It’s very welcome that these failed policies are now being reversed, but the cat is out of the bag and reforms will need enforcement to be effective.”