3 hours ago
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Illegal e-bikes will quickly be vanishing from NSW roads as police crack down on misuse.
New South Wales (NSW) Police have been given the green light to seize and destroy any e-bikes built to exceed their 25km/h speed limit by state law.
Seized bikes “will end up as a twisted wreck so they can’t rejoin the road,” according to NSW Minister for Transport John Graham.
Current state laws require e-bikes to have their power assistance cut out completely when the bike’s speed hits the 25km/h limit.
This reform follows the events of last week where up to 40 e-bikes rode across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in an “irresponsible, stupid and downright dangerous” social media stunt, according to NSW Highway Patrol Commander David Driver.
Not all e-bikes sold in Australian stores meet the speed limit set by NSW law, but will still be seized even if the owner is unaware their bike is non-compliant.
The government is also set to invest in portable speed testing devices, or “dyno units”, to measure an e-bike’s top speed.
This will override the current seizure laws in NSW, which require a lengthy court process to remove them from the streets.
Western Australia has had similar laws in place from January of this year, with reports of over a dozen e-bikes already taken off roads.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley emphasised the importance of safety and legality, not only for e-bike users, but the general public.
"Illegal, high-powered e-bikes aren’t harmless fun and anyone thinking they can slip under the radar should take this as their final warning,” Catley said.
"If your bike does not meet the rules, it will be destroyed.
"These safeguards are about making sure the e-bikes on our roads are legal and safe, and about stopping dangerous bikes from being handed back only to pop up again next week. If a bike breaks the rules, it’s gone for good.”
Meanwhile, the NRMA has thrown its full support behind the new e-bike crackdown, according to spokesperson Peter Khoury.
“It's an expensive proposition to have the bike confiscated and crushed but paying for a funeral is more expensive,” Khoury said.
A 2024 Monash University Media Communication graduate, Hayley Coulter joined the Drive team as a Content Coordinator in 2025. She brings a wide range of experience, from the sidelines of the VFL to the wings of the theatre. When she’s off the clock, Hayley is usually found driving her 2015 Suzuki Swift manual, affectionately nicknamed Sadie, with her dog Lacey riding shotgun.
