Ku-ring-gai Council has launched a public safety and education campaign targeting e-bike riders, calling for greater courtesy and lower speeds across shared footpaths, bushland trails, and high-traffic village hubs.

The Ride Safe Ku-ring-gai initiative rolls out across the local government area this week with updated community signage, digital awareness messaging, and targeted safety guidelines aimed at riders navigating suburban shopping strips, school zones, and community parks.

 Balancing Active Transport with Pedestrian Safety

While the popularity of electric bicycles has surged across Sydney’s North Shore—offering families, commuters, and school students an efficient, eco-friendly alternative to private vehicles—their rapid adoption has raised safety concerns amongst pedestrians, local traders, and senior residents.

Unlike traditional bicycles, pedal-assist e-bikes can accelerate rapidly while operating almost silently, creating collision hazards in dense community precincts like Lindfield, Gordon, Turramurra, and St Ives.

Ku-ring-gai Mayor Kim Wheatley emphasised that while Council supports active transport, shared infrastructure must remain safe and accessible for all path users.
“Our shared paths and village centres are made for everyone, and e-bikes are a wonderful way to get around—but because they’re fast and almost silent, they may take a pedestrian, dog, or young child by surprise,” Mayor Wheatley said.

“Every person using our paths should feel safe and comfortable, whether they’re on foot, on a bike, or pushing a pram. Our message is simple: slow down, ring your bell, and share the path. A little courtesy goes a long way to keeping everyone safe.”

Core Rules for Path Users

The campaign centres on three simple behavioural expectations for all riders using Council footpaths and shared networks:

Slow Down: Reduce speed to walking pace whenever approaching pedestrians, pets, or high-density areas.

Ring Your Bell: Give early audible warnings to alert pedestrians before passing.
Share the Path: Stay alert for sudden movements from children, prams, and animals.

Regulatory Warning for Parents: Buying Compliant E-Bikes

As part of the education drive, Council is urging parents to carefully examine technical specifications before purchasing e-bikes for school commutes or recreational use.
Under NSW road transport definitions, a legal e-bike must comply with the European

Standard EN-15194(EPAC standard). To remain classified as a bicycle rather than an unregistered motor vehicle:

• Power assistance must rely on rider pedalling (pedal-assist).
• Motor assistance must automatically cut out once the bike reaches 25 km/h.
• Throttle-only operation without pedalling is restricted to speeds below 6 km/h.

Importantly, non-compliant devices—including:

• high-powered throttle-only bikes,
• aftermarket conversion kits, or
• software-unlocked models exceeding legal wattage,

are classified under NSW law as motor vehicles.

Riding unregistered motor vehicles on public roads, footpaths, or Council reserves risks heavy police fines, license penalties, and vehicle confiscation.