Police will destroy illegal e-bikes seized in a crackdown that nabbed teenagers allegedly speeding, amid a push for tighter regulation of the vehicles.
Five teenagers, some allegedly travelling at more than 50km/h on illegal e-bikes, were arrested during a police operation in northern NSW at the weekend.
A 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl were allegedly caught riding e-bikes at more than 50km/h on Saturday, while a 13-year-old was allegedly detected riding recklessly and performing a wheelie.
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A 15-year-old was allegedly clocked travelling more than 80km/h on an electric motorbike, with another 13-year-old accused of speeding on an e-bike.
Detective Inspector Matt Zimmer said police would continue their crackdown.
“This enforcement is about reducing road trauma and enhancing community safety, in particular other road users, pedestrians and customers frequenting shopping centres and public spaces,” he said.
“These operations will continue with covert police deployments right across the district to prevent and disrupt the use of illegal e-bikes and associated e-bike offences.”
Police said they would destroy the illegal e-bikes belonging to those arrested.
An unrelated video posted on Instagram showed a group of about 20 people riding e-bikes around Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Independent MP Sophie Scamps introduced a private member’s bill to federal parliament earlier in September, proposing e-bikes be classified as road vehicles due to concerns about high-powered models and illegal modifications.
Scamps’ bill would enforce a 25km/h speed limit and anti-tampering protections.
Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital found 500 e-bike riders presented to its emergency department in two years.
A Monash University study found e-bike delivery riders were breaking speed limits in Melbourne, with some reaching 54km/h.
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