'Break the law, lose the bike': Public patience with e-bikes has run out

A surge in crashes and tragic deaths has supercharged public outrage over e-bikes, with three-quarters of drivers demanding a ban on under-16s riding them in NSW.

Research released by the NRMA revealed 73 per cent of its members support making e-bikes illegal for under-16s and the seizure of illegal devices.

The polling was conducted after a mass hooning incident on Sydney Harbour Bridge in February, with 92 per cent of respondents saying the NSW government should take stronger action on e-bike safety.

Concern about dangerous riding dominated the findings, with 85 per cent of respondents saying they were worried about "dangerous and anti-social" e-bike users.

Only 29 per cent said they held positive views toward e-bikes, while sentiment toward e-scooters was even lower at 19 per cent.

The survey also found widespread confusion about the law itself, with 65 per cent saying current rules were unclear or hard to understand.

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NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said the organisation still supported micromobility as a transport option, particularly for short trips, but argued children should not be using the devices.

"E-bikes and e-scooters can be a viable transport option – but not for children," Khoury said.

"We have sadly seen the tragic results of having children using these devices our roads and footpaths. NSW needs to improve the accountability of riders and device traceability.

"In the meantime, parents need to stop buying these bikes for their kids. There is clearly significant public concern around children using these devices on our roads."

Almost nine in 10 backed requiring riders to complete an online road rules test, while 78 per cent supported requiring licensed riders to hold a valid driver's licence for e-bikes.

The findings come as NSW parliament passes new laws allowing police to seize and destroy non-compliant e-bikes and scooters right off the street.

To enforce the crackdown, the government has invested in dyno units imported from Europe to measure e-bike speeds at the roadside.

The testing units will check whether a bike's power cuts out completely at the legal maximum of 25km/h. 

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The new laws also slash the legal e-bike power limit from 500 watts to 250 watts to align with other states.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley warned that riders operating non-compliant devices face zero tolerance under the new framework.

"The message is simple: if you're riding an illegal e-bike, police now have the power to take it off the street for good," Minister Catley said.

"We know our police have better things to do than chase illegal bikes through our suburbs, streets and regional communities. Break the law, lose the bike."

The government is continuing investigations under Strike Force Puma to target dangerous e-bike and e-motorbike rideouts, while still considering a minimum riding age between 12 and 16.

Meanwhile, the NSW Liberals and Nationals continue to push for broader powers that would go beyond Labor's newly passed legislation.

Under the opposition's proposed amendments, police would gain the authority to confiscate any e-bike involved in dangerous or anti-social behaviour – including legal devices.