Sophie Scamps (Mackellar, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I recently co-hosted a community forum with the NSW member for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby, to discuss the evolving use of e-bikes on the northern beaches of Sydney. E-bikes are a fun and clean way to get around, and their use in the electorate of Mackellar has exploded. But with this rise in popularity has come a rise in concern about safety for both riders and pedestrians.

We heard directly from young riders, parents, police, pedestrians, e-bike retailers, transport experts, trauma physicians and school principals about the growing use of e-bikes. A 14-year-old local, Tilly, shared how her e-bike has given her independence, allowing her to explore her community, connect with friends and get to school on time. This sentiment was echoed in a Northern Beaches Council youth survey which found that, for young people aged 12 to 17, transport is their second-most-important issue. We also heard from pedestrians who are fearful for their safety on footpaths. This is particularly acute for people with hearing and vision impairments. We heard from trauma surgeons who spoke of the rise in critical injuries: head injuries, spinal trauma and fractures. We heard from parents who are confused about what is legal and what is not, and we heard from local police who are grappling with enforcement challenges. Pedestrians are fearful of being hit by speeding bikes, riders are fearful of being hit by a car, and drivers are fearful of hitting a rider. I do not want to see any fatalities or serious injuries in Mackellar on my watch.

All levels of government, together with community, need to step up to make e-bikes safe for the whole community. At the federal level the problem is that currently e-bikes do not have to meet any minimum safety or quality standards when being imported into the country. This has led to an explosion in the number of bikes that can be easily modified to go at speeds well above 50 kilometres an hour—without any peddling at all. This makes them more motorbike than bicycle. We also heard from a local bike retailer who has found that, when servicing e-bikes, around 80 per cent of bikes have been modified in this way to exceed legal speed limits. A legal e-bike is one where the electric motor only assists the rider when they are pedalling and cuts out at 25 kilometres an hour. That's why this week I introduced the Road Vehicle Standards Amendment (Safer E-Bikes) Bill 2025, which would legislate a national standard for the importation of e-bikes, ensuring that only compliant, safe devices enter the country. E-bikes are a clean, accessible and empowering form of transport, but we must act now to make sure they are safe for both riders and pedestrians alike.

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