E-bike rules written but enforcement up in the air
More e-scooters and e-bikes will be on shared footpaths in one state, but just who will police the strict speed limits remains unclear with one wheel forward, two wheels back.
Hours after a serious crash involving an illegally modified e-bike highlighted safety risks, the NSW government on Tuesday unveiled its answer to the rise in e-mobility devices.
It has proposed allowing e-scooters to be ridden on shared paths with a default speed limit of between 10 and 20km/h.
On roads signposted at 50km/h, they would be limited to 20km/h.
Riders would need to be aged at least 16, consistent with all Australian jurisdictions except the ACT and European recommendations.
Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison admitted she was unsure who would enforce those speed limits, with neither local councils nor police seemingly keen to take on the task.
Councils believe they do not have the resources or power, while an undermanned police force is already struggling with staffing issues.
"We know that is an area of challenge, but obviously, like all traffic, police are predominantly the ones responsible for enforcement," Ms Aitchison said.
The government does not intend to speed-limit e-bikes, as their motors are not the only source of power.
It will however review the formal definition of an e-bike within NSW's road rules.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said no footpath speed limits and no detail on how state departments would improve enforcement was a missed opportunity.
"The rule that allows a 12-year-old on a fat bike to ride at the same speed on the footpath as on the road next to it is an obvious safety risk for pedestrians," she said."All the rules in the world can be put in place but we know that without enforcement, they will be ineffective."
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who chaired a parliamentary inquiry into e-mobility devices, said the government must not delay its work on e-bikes and the need to build dedicated parking infrastructure.
"It appears as though the government is content with leaving councils to deal with the problems that the rapid growth in shared e-bike schemes has created," she said.
The inquiry response landed against the backdrop of a serious collision in Victoria, where two men were taken to hospital after one was struck by an illegally modified e-bike.
A 69-year-old pedestrian hit by the e-bike in Hastings, on the Mornington Peninsula, died in hospital on Tuesday.
The rider, a 24-year-old man, was also seriously injured.
No charges have been laid over the incident.
E-scooters have been stuck in a legislative bind in NSW - they are available to buy but illegal to operate in public spaces.
There are an estimated 1.35 million e-micromobility devices in homes across NSW, with almost half of them used to connect people with public transport.
More e-scooters and e-bikes will be on shared footpaths in one state, but just who will police the strict speed limits remains unclear with one wheel forward, two wheels back.
Hours after a serious crash involving an illegally modified e-bike highlighted safety risks, the NSW government on Tuesday unveiled its answer to the rise in e-mobility devices.
It has proposed allowing e-scooters to be ridden on shared paths with a default speed limit of between 10 and 20km/h.
On roads signposted at 50km/h, they would be limited to 20km/h.
Riders would need to be aged at least 16, consistent with all Australian jurisdictions except the ACT and European recommendations.
Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison admitted she was unsure who would enforce those speed limits, with neither local councils nor police seemingly keen to take on the task.
Councils believe they do not have the resources or power, while an undermanned police force is already struggling with staffing issues.
"We know that is an area of challenge, but obviously, like all traffic, police are predominantly the ones responsible for enforcement," Ms Aitchison said.
The government does not intend to speed-limit e-bikes, as their motors are not the only source of power.
It will however review the formal definition of an e-bike within NSW's road rules.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said no footpath speed limits and no detail on how state departments would improve enforcement was a missed opportunity.
"The rule that allows a 12-year-old on a fat bike to ride at the same speed on the footpath as on the road next to it is an obvious safety risk for pedestrians," she said."All the rules in the world can be put in place but we know that without enforcement, they will be ineffective."
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who chaired a parliamentary inquiry into e-mobility devices, said the government must not delay its work on e-bikes and the need to build dedicated parking infrastructure.
"It appears as though the government is content with leaving councils to deal with the problems that the rapid growth in shared e-bike schemes has created," she said.
The inquiry response landed against the backdrop of a serious collision in Victoria, where two men were taken to hospital after one was struck by an illegally modified e-bike.
A 69-year-old pedestrian hit by the e-bike in Hastings, on the Mornington Peninsula, died in hospital on Tuesday.
The rider, a 24-year-old man, was also seriously injured.
No charges have been laid over the incident.
E-scooters have been stuck in a legislative bind in NSW - they are available to buy but illegal to operate in public spaces.
There are an estimated 1.35 million e-micromobility devices in homes across NSW, with almost half of them used to connect people with public transport.
More e-scooters and e-bikes will be on shared footpaths in one state, but just who will police the strict speed limits remains unclear with one wheel forward, two wheels back.
Hours after a serious crash involving an illegally modified e-bike highlighted safety risks, the NSW government on Tuesday unveiled its answer to the rise in e-mobility devices.
It has proposed allowing e-scooters to be ridden on shared paths with a default speed limit of between 10 and 20km/h.
On roads signposted at 50km/h, they would be limited to 20km/h.
Riders would need to be aged at least 16, consistent with all Australian jurisdictions except the ACT and European recommendations.
Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison admitted she was unsure who would enforce those speed limits, with neither local councils nor police seemingly keen to take on the task.
Councils believe they do not have the resources or power, while an undermanned police force is already struggling with staffing issues.
"We know that is an area of challenge, but obviously, like all traffic, police are predominantly the ones responsible for enforcement," Ms Aitchison said.
The government does not intend to speed-limit e-bikes, as their motors are not the only source of power.
It will however review the formal definition of an e-bike within NSW's road rules.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said no footpath speed limits and no detail on how state departments would improve enforcement was a missed opportunity.
"The rule that allows a 12-year-old on a fat bike to ride at the same speed on the footpath as on the road next to it is an obvious safety risk for pedestrians," she said."All the rules in the world can be put in place but we know that without enforcement, they will be ineffective."
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who chaired a parliamentary inquiry into e-mobility devices, said the government must not delay its work on e-bikes and the need to build dedicated parking infrastructure.
"It appears as though the government is content with leaving councils to deal with the problems that the rapid growth in shared e-bike schemes has created," she said.
The inquiry response landed against the backdrop of a serious collision in Victoria, where two men were taken to hospital after one was struck by an illegally modified e-bike.
A 69-year-old pedestrian hit by the e-bike in Hastings, on the Mornington Peninsula, died in hospital on Tuesday.
The rider, a 24-year-old man, was also seriously injured.
No charges have been laid over the incident.
E-scooters have been stuck in a legislative bind in NSW - they are available to buy but illegal to operate in public spaces.
There are an estimated 1.35 million e-micromobility devices in homes across NSW, with almost half of them used to connect people with public transport.
More e-scooters and e-bikes will be on shared footpaths in one state, but just who will police the strict speed limits remains unclear with one wheel forward, two wheels back.
Hours after a serious crash involving an illegally modified e-bike highlighted safety risks, the NSW government on Tuesday unveiled its answer to the rise in e-mobility devices.
It has proposed allowing e-scooters to be ridden on shared paths with a default speed limit of between 10 and 20km/h.
On roads signposted at 50km/h, they would be limited to 20km/h.
Riders would need to be aged at least 16, consistent with all Australian jurisdictions except the ACT and European recommendations.
Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison admitted she was unsure who would enforce those speed limits, with neither local councils nor police seemingly keen to take on the task.
Councils believe they do not have the resources or power, while an undermanned police force is already struggling with staffing issues.
"We know that is an area of challenge, but obviously, like all traffic, police are predominantly the ones responsible for enforcement," Ms Aitchison said.
The government does not intend to speed-limit e-bikes, as their motors are not the only source of power.
It will however review the formal definition of an e-bike within NSW's road rules.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said no footpath speed limits and no detail on how state departments would improve enforcement was a missed opportunity.
"The rule that allows a 12-year-old on a fat bike to ride at the same speed on the footpath as on the road next to it is an obvious safety risk for pedestrians," she said."All the rules in the world can be put in place but we know that without enforcement, they will be ineffective."
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who chaired a parliamentary inquiry into e-mobility devices, said the government must not delay its work on e-bikes and the need to build dedicated parking infrastructure.
"It appears as though the government is content with leaving councils to deal with the problems that the rapid growth in shared e-bike schemes has created," she said.
The inquiry response landed against the backdrop of a serious collision in Victoria, where two men were taken to hospital after one was struck by an illegally modified e-bike.
A 69-year-old pedestrian hit by the e-bike in Hastings, on the Mornington Peninsula, died in hospital on Tuesday.
The rider, a 24-year-old man, was also seriously injured.
No charges have been laid over the incident.
E-scooters have been stuck in a legislative bind in NSW - they are available to buy but illegal to operate in public spaces.
There are an estimated 1.35 million e-micromobility devices in homes across NSW, with almost half of them used to connect people with public transport.
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