Northern Beaches Advocate: Community leaders met at Mona Vale to discuss the mounting issue of e-bike safety.
The e-bike community forum was hosted by Mackellar MP Dr Sophie Scamps and Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby on Thursday evening (21 August) at Mona Vale Surf Life Saving Club at Mona Vale Beach.
Around a hundred attendees braved the cold and rain to hear a panel of expert speakers address e-bike safety issues. These included representatives from NSW Police, Northern Beaches Council, Transport for NSW (TfNSW), doctors, retailers and bicycle riders....
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby said it was important to implement a measured approach, balancing the benefits of e-mobility with appropriate controls.
“The last thing I want is for someone to invest in a bike and then for that to be confiscated. As a community, we are really struggling with the illegal riding.
“We see the benefits, and I do appreciate the government’s agenda, which is to embrace e-mobility and promote it, but we’re working out how to get guardrails.
“From a first principles point of view, the last thing we want to do is be ripping bikes off people and creating a law and order vibe over e-bikes, which have benefits.
“The education piece is huge, and I think as a start, we need to sort the legislation so it is very clear to have that education, and to educate parents about the risk that some of the doctors have mentioned,” said Ms Scruby.