We need to rethink the use of e-bikes, especially by children

Christmas is a little over three weeks away and thousands of parents across Sydney are being pestered by their teens to get them the latest must-have accessory: a so-called “fat boy” e-bike.

Costing up to $4000, these bicycles with thick tyres suited to riding across sand are powered by batteries that deliver up to 500 watts of power – enough to generate speeds of up to 60km/h. The market for these powerful and heavy machines seems to be divided between teens, who ride on paths and through malls to the detriment of pedestrians, and delivery drivers, who whizz in and out of traffic to the consternation of drivers.

While undoubtedly fun and easy for their users, there is a serious downside to this craze: NSW Ambulance has treated more than 770 patients across the state for injuries related to e-bike riding since the start of 2025.

A teenager died after crashing an electric dirt bike on the Gold Coast on November 1, days after a young boy died in an e-bike collision on the Sunshine Coast.

And on Tuesday morning in the Sydney CBD, a delivery rider died after a collision with a garbage truck.

It is unclear how fast the rider and garbage truck were travelling, or who was at fault – the Herald has sympathy for the terrible grief the family of the rider must now be going through.

But this tragedy clearly illustrates the safety risks of this type of bicycle.

Premier Chris Minns announced on radio shortly after the accident that new regulations would be introduced for e-bikes, saying NSW would lower the maximum battery power from 500 watts to 250 watts, bringing us in line with other states and reducing the top speed to 30km/h.

The government will also review the definition of an e-bike to close loopholes that allow “motorcycle-level devices” to be sold.

Meanwhile, federal Transport Minister Catherine King has already said that e-bike import standards will be elevated to the stronger European standard by the year’s end, which means imported e-bikes must have motors that cut off at 25km/h, a 250-watt power limit, and not rely solely on a throttle.

This is a good start, but even with such changes e-bikes pose serious problems for both pedestrians and motorists.

Several private boys’ schools, including Cranbrook and Riverview, have banned or restricted fat bikes on their campuses because of concerns over safety. In Sutherland Shire, Cronulla High School has introduced a trial of number plates for its students who ride e-bikes, with anecdotal feedback saying it has helped to improve rider behaviour.

Clearly, there is a role here for governments at all levels to regulate the market and limit the power and speed of these bicycles to protect riders, pedestrians and even drivers.

However, parents and adult riders must also take some responsibility. Handing a powerful machine that costs thousands of dollars to a teenager with little ability to assess and control risky behaviour is a recipe for trouble. Similarly, delivery drivers who rely on these machines must follow road rules, use suitable lighting and ride responsibly.

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