‘It’s just insane’: Doctors, lawyers back green slips for e-bikes

Owners of e-bikes could soon be forced to be covered by the same green slip insurance requirements as those applying to other road vehicles following a spate of serious collisions involving electric-powered devices on the state’s roads.

Doctors and legal experts are leading a push for the NSW government to overhaul the state’s compulsory insurance requirements in a move to address a “compensation gap” leaving uninsured e-bike riders and victims of collisions financially vulnerable.

The Australian Lawyers Alliance and the NSW Bar Association, which represents more than 2400 barristers across the state, have emerged as the strongest voices for change, urging the NSW government to introduce regulations requiring privately owned devices to be registered and covered by compulsory third-party insurance.

And there are signs the NSW government is listening. Transport Minister John Graham revealed the government had tasked NSW Treasury with “exploring insurance options” for privately owned e-bikes. Public consultation on a potential scheme is expected to commence this year.

The review will explore the viability of different insurance models, the affordability of insurance requirements and the need for people injured by devices to be effectively supported.

NSW is the only state that has introduced laws requiring shared e-bike schemes to be covered by compulsory third-party insurance but those same rules do not apply to privately owned devices.

Barrister Andrew Stone SC, a member of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, said a mandatory scheme would close an insurance loophole that can leave victims of collisions footing expensive medical costs for hospital treatment, rehabilitation and lost income.

“E-bikes can weigh as much as motorbikes and if you’re struck and knocked to the ground by one of these devices, you can be left with life-long injuries and may not be able to work again,” he said.

“It’s a two-fold problem because if you’re injured in a collision, the only avenue you have to recoup medical costs is taking civil action against the culpable driver of the uninsured product. If you’re that owner of that product and have assets to claim against, you’re essentially putting your house on the line.

“E-bikes should be treated just like any other motor vehicle, yet the government is treating them more like children’s toys.”

The calls for change coincide with data released to the Herald revealing 153 people presented to Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital with injuries resulting from e-bike collisions in 2025 – up from 49 per cent from the 103 presentations in 2024 and more than triple the 45 presentations in 2023.

St Vincent’s Hospital emergency specialist Dr Tom Crofts, who agrees insurance is needed, said most injuries in 2025 stemmed from crashes involving speed, alcohol or drivers failing to wear protective equipment.

“The types of injuries we’re seeing are more associated with motorbike collisions than those associated with standard non-electric bikes and in serious cases, people are left with permanent disabilities and loss of independence,” he said.

Graham said “there are legitimate concerns about safety and injuries” associated with private e-bikes.

“There are more than a million e-bikes and e-scooters in NSW, which is why (the government) is building a safety-focused set of rules to protect riders and pedestrians,” he said.

NSW opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward said the opposition was “open to looking at” a potential insurance scheme. “The focus should be on identifying the key rider groups causing distress in the community,” she said.

“To have them external to any system of regulation or insurance is just insane.”

David Hooke SC, NSW Bar Association common law committee chair

But Australasian College of Road Safety NSW chair Michael Timms said there could be “significant challenges” involved in implementing a mandatory scheme, primarily due to the young age of e-bike users. The highest rates of ownership are within the 25 to 34 age group.

Bicycle NSW chief executive Peter McLean said a mandatory insurance scheme could also be financially prohibitive for users and “administratively burdensome” for the NSW government.

“Ultimately, if we had better regulations for devices sold in the first place, we’d be reducing the overall risk and that’s where the focus should be,” he said. “The last thing we want is a financial barrier that inhibits the uptake of e-bikes at a time when we’re trying to encourage fewer people to drive cars in major cities.”

The Insurance Council of Australia encouraged owners of private e-bikes to take “proactive measures” to ensure they were adequately protected, including taking out stand-alone insurance with coverage for personal accidents and public liability.

The review comes after NSW Premier Chris Minns announced plans for a broader safety crackdown on e-bikes, including reducing the legal power limit of devices sold from 500 watts to 250 watts, bringing NSW into line with the rest of the country.

NSW Bar Association common law committee chair David Hooke SC believes the current insurance requirements have failed to keep pace with the proliferation of privately owned e-bikes in NSW.

“You’re talking about objects, driven by inexperienced riders, that have the capacity, and the demonstrated capacity, to cause serious injury and death,” he said. “To have them external to any system of regulation or insurance is just insane.”

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