source : the age
Police have urged parents and children to ensure their modified electric bicycles comply with Victorian road laws ahead of the school holidays, following a major safety blitz across Melbourne’s CBD.
Officers issued hundreds of fines during a three-week operation targeting e-bike riders – with a particular focus on food delivery riders – including 44 unregistered overpowered e-bikes and 32 unlicensed riders.
In Victoria, a legal e-bike must have working pedals and a maximum power output of 250 watts. It should not be capable of exceeding 25 km/h.
“If caught on an overpowered or non-compliant e-bike, penalties can include using an unregistered vehicle, which carries a $1018 fine or unlicensed driving, also a $1018 fine,” police said in a statement on Wednesday.
The crackdown, codenamed Operation Consider, netted 174 e-bike related offences altogether.
Forty fines were issued to e-bike riders for failing to wear a helmet, which carries a $254 penalty, while another 11 riders were caught failing to obey traffic signals, two were disqualified riders and six defect notices were issued.
Police also recorded another 101 offences against motorists and other road users during the operation.
No bikes were seized, even though officers have the power to do so.
“If it’s a bike that has been modified, riders will be educated and given the opportunity to rectify any modifications, so the bike can be used legally,” a spokesperson said.
Impoundments are generally utilised more for recidivist/repeat offenders or serious high-risk driving, such as high speeds or impairment. Police will often direct them to walk the bike home, as it can no longer be ridden.”
While releasing the results, police also issued a general warning to the community to check their own electric bicycles.
“Police will continue to conduct e-bike enforcement operations over the coming months, including over the school holidays which commence this week,” the police statement said.
“Parents and children are being urged to familiarise themselves with e-bike rules to ensure they aren’t caught out riding illegal bikes which are subject to significant penalties.”
Police said children under 18 are allowed to ride an e-bike if it is legal, as a compliant e-bike is considered a bicycle.
“You must ensure your e-bike does not exceed the power or speed requirements, and that you adhere to the road rules applicable to all cyclists – including wearing a helmet and using bicycle lanes,” Road Policing Acting Superintendent Craig McEvoy said.
This month’s police operation follows a series of high-profile deaths on Victorian roads related to e-bikes.
In April this year, an unlicensed teenage e-bike rider was badly injured and his passenger killed in South Morang. Following this tragedy, friends of the boy who died, Max Foster, told this masthead they would stop riding powerful e-bikes themselves.
Police said that bikes imported from other countries did not always comply with Victorian standards.
Managing the influx of electric bicycles and enforcing compliance on public roads is a growing national challenge.
Victorian authorities are now restricting converted e-bikes on trains and within ticketed areas after a review last year, while NSW and Queensland are considering stricter regulations.
Meanwhile, police have arrested two teenagers following a road rage incident in Melbourne’s inner north on Sunday afternoon, during which a driver was injured when a group of teens allegedly smashed his car windscreen.
Officers allege the pair were riding motorcycles in convoy with around 50 others in Fawkner at about 4pm, cutting off drivers and damaging one vehicle after it was involved in a near miss with some of the riders.
“Officers have been told some of the riders were armed with weapons during the incident,” police said.
“Detectives continue to work to identify the other riders, with additional arrests expected.”
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