New South Wales will introduce a minimum age for ebike riding as part of a bid to tackle safety concerns and curb “dangerous behaviour”.
The Minns government announced the reforms on Friday, after an expert review led by Transport NSW recommended a legal minimum age limit of between 12 and 16 and would examine whether children and teenagers can carry passengers.
The review will consult with child development and road safety experts as well as parents and young people.
The findings will be presented to the Transport Minister and the Roads Minister by June and the NSW Government will make a final decision on age limits and passengers.
Under NSW’s current regulations, children of any age can ride an ebike and carry a passenger if the bike’s design allows. Western Australia already has an age limit of 16 – and any children under 16 caught riding an eBike face a $50 fine.
The transport minister, John Graham, said he wanted children outdoors but keeping them safe was “paramount”.
“Having kids as young as 10 or 11 on these high-powered bikes is very dangerous,” he said.
The age limit restrictions will build on a range of other NSW ebike reforms, including new powers for police to seize and crack down on illegal bikes.
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The NSW Government has recognized that there has been a rapid increase in ebikes, estimated at 760,000 in the state, allowing more people to get around and be active – but there is also a need for clearer rules.
Mass “rideouts” by young people on ebikes have sparked safety concerns, with Federal Health Minister Mark Butler earlier this month calling illegal ebikes “a total menace on the roads”.
The state of New South Wales recorded 226 injuries related to ebikes in 2024. In the first seven months of 2025, that has already increased to 233 injuries and four deaths.
The police minister, Yasmin Katli, said the age limit and a crackdown on illegal, high-powered bikes would help police “prevent dangerous behavior before more people are seriously injured”.
“Police have seen first-hand the consequences of misuse of powerful ebikes,” she said. “It’s about getting the balance right so ebikes remain a useful transport option without putting people at risk.”
On Friday, the Mins government announced the adoption of European safety standards, ensuring that ebikes operate like push bikes, not motorbikes.
According to the European standard, ebikes cannot be modified, preventing power and speed limits from changing, with a maximum power output of 250 watts.
The power assistance must be cut off at 25km/h and if the rider does not pedal the bike, it will cut off at 6km/h.
There will be a three-year transition period, with only bikes meeting the European standard considered road-legal in NSW from March 2029.
“It’s a huge challenge … especially after the former Liberal government opened the door to 500-watt ebikes,” Graham said. “We work to make sure people have options to modify those bikes.”
The government will work with manufacturers to ensure that future stock meets the updated rules.
Cycle NSW’s CEO, Peter McLean, said the organization was “very pleased” with the introduction of European standards.
“It’s the gold standard,” he said. “Ebikes are a fantastic way to get from A to B … it’s becoming easier and easier in Sydney.”
McLean said ebikes are often faster than public transport or private vehicles, but their growing popularity requires public safety education.
