Key facts
- NSW police seized 36 illegal ebikes on Sydney's northern beaches.
- One seized ebike belonged to a 14-year-old and could reach speeds over 90km/h.
- Seized ebikes not claimed as stolen within 14 days will be crushed.
- Ebikes must not exceed 25km/h with power assistance to be legal.
- NSW recorded 233 ebike-related injuries and four deaths in the first seven months of 2025.
- Police issued 16 penalty notices and 46 cautions for other road offences during the operation.
New South Wales police have seized 36 high-powered and illegal ebikes on Sydney's northern beaches as part of a crackdown on non-compliant vehicles. The operation, which occurred on Friday, follows recent incidents of dangerous e-bike use and comes weeks after police were granted new powers to destroy such bikes.
Assistant Commissioner David Driver stated that while most ebike riders comply with the rules, police will enforce the new legislation against those riding non-compliant vehicles. The seized ebikes are capable of exceeding the legal speed limit of 25km/h and do not cut power assistance at that speed. One ebike confiscated belonged to a 14-year-old boy and was found to be capable of reaching speeds over 90km/h.
Owners have 14 days to prove their seized bike was stolen and being used by someone else. After this period, the bikes will be crushed. The government has invested in portable speed-testing devices, known as "dyno units," to quickly assess ebike power and speed. Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray emphasized that ebikes must function like bicycles, not motorcycles, and that ignoring the rules endangers other road users.
In 2024, NSW recorded 226 ebike-related injuries, and in the first seven months of 2025, this number surged to 233 injuries along with four deaths. The operation also resulted in 16 penalty notices and 46 cautions for other road offences, such as not wearing a helmet or using a mobile phone while riding.