Pittwater Life July 2024 Issue

News
Govt triggers e-bike inquiry
The NSW Government
has acknowledged the
increasing danger of
e-bikes, ordering a Parliamentary
inquiry into their use.
It comes at the urging of
the State Opposition to set
up the inquiry and at the
end of a six-week rider safety
awareness blitz by Northern
Beaches Council.
Pittwater MP Rory Amon
welcomed the Government’s
move which will see bipartisan
discussion on ways to
improve safety for users and
pedestrians.
It follows months of campaigning
by Mr Amon that coincided
with a surge in e-bike
sales and use across NSW – as
well as increasing near-tragedy
incidents reported by the
Pittwater community.
Lobbying for an inquiry in
March, Mr Amon urged the
Government to provide more
support to police and suggested
Council rangers should
be empowered to issue bikerelated
infringement notices.
He said that statistics
gathered from July 1 last year
through February this year
revealed that only seven penalties
were issued for e-bikes
or pedal bikes carrying too
many passengers; only five
for an e-bike or pedal bike
disobeying the speed limit,
and only 60 for negligent
riding.
No data had been recorded
regarding e-bike riders using
motor assistance to exceed
the regulated 25km/h speed
limit.
“Given the feedback I
received, these numbers are
COUNCIL CAMPAIGN: The launch of ‘The Code’ in late May.
concerningly low,” Mr Amon
said.
Regarding regulation, he
said the Government needed
to consider an insurance
scheme for certain kinds of
e-bikes and consider whether
it was appropriate for kids as
young as six to ride e-bikes or
mini motorbikes.
“Should there be a minimum
age to purchase, own
or ride an e-bike?” he asked
Parliament.
“Should riders receive
some educational resources
regarding rules? Should the
Federal Government do more
to prevent the importing of
e-bikes whose speed limiters
can be readily removed or
tampered with?
“Should there be penalties,
or greater penalties, for
manufacturers and distributors
who are in breach of the
rules? What should be the extent
of education campaigns
for parents and children,
and through schools, to help
communities grapple with the
challenge?”
Mr Amon said that while
e-bikes had a tremendous
capacity for good, there were
many well-documented challenges.
“I welcome this enquiry – it
will provide the platform for
experts across all relevant
sectors to make their submissions
and help us chart a path
for the safe use of e-bikes, so
they can be an overall positive,”
said Mr Amon.
Relevant stakeholders will
be invited to make submissions
to the Inquiry and give
evidence at hearings.
Meanwhile Northern Beaches
Mayor Sue Heins said Council
was “incredibly delighted”
with the results of its e-bike
safety campaign (‘The Code’).
“We’re already seeing behavioural
change by users of
e-bikes and feedback from the
community has been positive,”
she said.
Council reported more than
267,000 reel and video plays
on Instagram and YouTube
including more than 30,000
replays – the highest-played
video content to date on
Council’s Instagram channel.
More than 100 corflute
signs were placed at 62 locations
across the Northern
Beaches, with posters and
corflutes provided to 20 local
high schools as well as campaign
displays at seven local
bike shops.
As reported by Pittwater
Life in June, Council urged
local schools to follow the
lead of Stella Maris College at
Manly, which has introduced
strict e-bike user and storage
rules for its students – including
passing the Learner
Driver exam, lodging e-bike
serial numbers and proving
that the e-bike throttle speed
was locked.
Pittwater Life asked local
schools Pittwater High and
Barrenjoey High whether
they would adopt any similar
safety measures.
A spokeswoman for Pittwater
High said the school had
instructed students to walk,
not ride, their bikes (both
cycles and e-bikes) into the
grounds and store them by
one of the main gates.
A spokeswoman for Barrenjoey
High said they had
referred our question to the
NSW Education Department
but had not received a reply.
Mayor Heins said Phase 2
of the Council’s safety and
awareness campaign would
commence later this year.
– Nigel Wall
*What do you think? Tell
us at readers@pittwaterlife.
com.au
10 JULY 2024
The Local Voice Since 1991