E-bikes are becoming increasingly popular, especially in NSW and amongst young people. It is important to be aware of the laws relating to e-bikes in NSW, particularly if riding them on the road, to ensure your safety, to ensure the safety of others, and to avoid any penalties.
As of 14 August 2026, the NSW Government has introduced reforms to shared e-bike schemes, and new measures for reducing the risks posed by illegal private e-bike use. These reforms are a part of a staged overhaul of e-bike safety in NSW.
If you are wondering what the law says about e-bikes in NSW, read our article below.
What are the changes to private e-bike use?
- New powers for NSW Police to seize and crush illegal, privately-owned e-bikes.
- Reducing the 500-watt e-bike power limit introduced by the Liberals to 250-watts.
- Introducing world-leading Standard to ensure e-bikes are pedalled and legal power output cannot be tampered with.
- Introducing a minimum age limit to ride an e-bike.
- Imposing strict new safety standards on the sale of lithium-ion batteries.
- Banning converted e-bikes from trains and Sydney Metro services to reduce the risk of fires.
What e-bikes are legal to ride on NSW roads?
As a part of the reforms, NSW will adopt the European safety standard (EN15194) to ensure e-bikes operate like bicycles, and not motorbikes.
In line with this standard, a legal e-bike must have all of the following features:
- 250W maximum continuous power
- A motor that does not provide power at speeds higher than 25km/h.
- Throttle-only (motor without pedalling) function that cuts out at 6km/h.
E-bikes that exceed any of the above limits are illegal, even if its power or speed is restricted by an app or switch. Hacking or tampering with your e-bike may make it illegal.
In recognising that many people already own e-bikes which follow the previous rule of 500W of maximum continuous power, the reduced requirement of 250W will not be enforced until 1 March 2029.
What is the minimum age?
The NSW Government has not yet introduced a definite rule around the minimum age required to ride an e-bike. However, it is expected that this age will be between 12 and 16. A final decision is expected soon.
Riding an e-bike
E-bike riders must follow the same road rules that apply to regular bicycles:
- You must wear an approved helmet securely fitted and fastened.
- You must not carry more people than the bike is designed for. Any passengers must also wear an approved, fitted and fastened helmet.
- If you’re 16 years or older and not supervising a child under 16 years riding a bike, you can’t ride on the footpath.
Legal e-bikes can be ridden on shared paths (but must give way to pedestrians), shared zones (unless signposted otherwise and only to 10km/hr), bicycle paths, bicycle lanes and roads (unless there is a ‘no bicycle’ sign).
Legal e-bikes cannot be ridden on footpaths, unless under 16 or an adult accompanying the person is under 16 (with some exceptions, see here for more information: Where to ride bicycles, e-bikes and other wheeled devices in NSW | NSW Government).
Shared e-bike schemes
- Authorisation that ensures operators are held to a consistent state-wide set of minimum standards which include requirements for insurance, helmets, device standards, device identification, the provision of data on trips, incidents and complaints.
- Strict penalties of up to $55,000, plus $5,500 per day for ongoing non-compliance including the failure to remove e-bikes from inappropriate locations.
- Approved operators will need to ensure their devices do not block pathways, pedestrian crossings, bus and light rail stops, taxi zones or fire exits.
- Local councils will be able to issue penalties for non-compliance, while Transport for NSW may suspend or revoke approvals where operators fail to meet their obligations. Councils and authorities will also have the power to establish dedicated parking zones and bays as well as “no-go” and “go-slow” zones.
- Fleet caps to ensure the right number of shared devices are available in each area by linking each operator’s fleet size to dynamic factors including demand and performance.
- A per trip levy on shared scheme operators which will fund the $6.6 million Sharing Scheme Grant Program which grants local councils up to $200,000 to deliver e-bike parking in their areas.
Staged commencement of the new rules will occur in the coming months, giving councils and NSW Government land managers powers to set required parking zones and to penalise shared e-bike operators if they aren’t used.
Electric scooters
It is currently illegal to ride privately owned e-scooters in public places in NSW, except shared e-scooters in designated shared e-scooter trial sites.
Traffic offences
You can be penalised if you commit a traffic offence while riding an e-bike. Bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as other NSW road users.
Laws specific to bicycle riders include:
- Negligent riding: You can be charged with an offence if you ride a bicycle in a negligent or dangerous manner. Negligent riding means riding that endangers the life of yourself or others.
- Drink riding: You can be charged with an offence if you ride a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol. The offence carries imprisonment as a maximum penalty.
- Not wearing a helmet: You may be fined if you are riding a bicycle without an approved helmet securely fitted and fastened on your head.
Penalties for bicycle offences are usually issued by a Police Officer and are issued on the spot. A police officer may ask you your name, address and other personal details to verify your identity.
Written by Ruby Bickford, last updated 18 August 2026.
