Today I speak again about an issue that is at the front of mind for many people across my community: e-bikes. If you live on the northern beaches, you do not need a report to tell you what is happening. You see it every day: kids riding to school, to the beach, to sports, people commuting, families getting around without needing a car. In many ways, e-bikes are a great success story. They are opening up active transport, reducing congestion and giving young people in particular a new level of independence. But, alongside those benefits, there is a growing and understandable feeling in the community that the rules have not kept up. Recently I ran a survey through my office to better understand local views on e-bikes. I thank everyone who took the time to complete that survey and send me additional feedback. That was critical. Their input has been incredibly valuable in shaping my advocacy on this issue.

The results were clear. Around 88 per cent of respondents supported mandatory registration for e-bikes. That aligns strongly with my view that we need a system where riders can be identified and held accountable if they are doing the wrong thing. We also saw 78 per cent support for licensing requirements. That reflects an expectation that, if you are operating a high-powered device in shared spaces, there should be a basic level of training and responsibility attached. There was also strong backing, 87 per cent, for introducing a minimum age for riders. Survey respondents gave a range from 10 to 18 for minimum age, with most preferring 16 years old. I fully support an age limit and take on board the strong message from the survey results, but I do think we need further consultation on what the right age is. These are powerful machines, and they require maturity and judgement. At the same time, we do not want to preclude access for young people during years when e-bikes can have such a big positive impact on quality of life. Some 81 per cent of survey respondents supported a maximum e-bike speed of 10 kilometres per hour on a footpath or shared path. I note that this is consistent with a proposal put forward by the member for Pittwater and is a position I support.

I acknowledge one limitation in the survey. The proportion of respondents under 18 was relatively low. That matters because young people are some of the biggest users of e-bikes, and their perspectives are critical. Through my school visits, I know that their views can be different, and we need to keep listening to them as part of this conversation. But, taken together, the survey results tell a consistent story. People just want clearer rules, safer behaviour and more accountability. Right now, there are too many grey areas. We have high-powered bikes that behave more like motorbikes than bicycles on our streets. We have uncertainty around who is responsible when there is an accident. And we have limited ability for the community or police to identify riders who are doing the wrong thing. The current situation is not sustainable.

I have consistently called on the Government to do more, including recently writing to transport Minister John Graham with the results of the survey. The good news is that the Government has started to act. The Road Transport Amendment (Non-registrable Motor Vehicles) Bill 2026, currently before the Parliament, is a good example. It strengthens the powers of police to seize and, in some cases, destroy illegal e-bikes that exceed legal limits, particularly those that are, effectively, unregistered motorbikes. I support these stronger seizure powers. They send a clear message that illegal and unsafe devices will not be tolerated. The Government has also halved the power limit, from 500 watts to 250 watts, bringing New South Wales into line with other States, and established significant penalties for manufacturers who breach safety standards. These are indeed positive steps.

Let us be honest: Governments are playing catch-up. That is why I support the work of the member for Pittwater, who has introduced a bill to establish a comprehensive licensing and registration framework and provide for the regulation of the sale, ownership and use of e-bikes. I am also encouraged by local leadership. Schools such as St Luke's Grammar School are already implementing their own e-bike registration systems, and Northern Beaches Council is doing similar trials, showing what can be done when communities step up. We need to support these community initiatives as well as leading change. For me, this is not about being against e-bikes. It is actually the opposite. If we get the settings right, e-bikes can be a long-term success story for New South Wales, reducing congestion, supporting active transport and giving people real alternatives to the car, especially in areas like the northern beaches which do not have much access to anything other than buses.

But if we ignore the risks, we risk losing community confidence altogether. I have continued to push for a balanced approach, one that supports the benefits of e-bikes while putting in place the rules, safeguards and infrastructure needed to keep everyone safe. I will keep listening to the community, including young people, because getting this right is about making sure our streets, footpaths and shared spaces work for everyone. I again thank everyone who has completed my bike survey. I thank the Government for putting forward the legislation. I understand the Opposition has also done this. Clearly, it is an important issue for this Parliament to consider now.

05 May 2026, 19:04.