E-bikes have gone from something many Australians barely noticed to a major form of personal transport and recreation. Now, in some States, police are taking increasingly strong action against riders on bikes that don't meet the legal definition of an e-bike.
But perhaps there is a bigger story here.
One that isn't about taking sides.
One that is simply about asking whether we could have handled the rise of e-bikes differently.
Nobody really wanted e-bikes 10–15 years ago
Let's rewind 10–15 years.
E-bikes existed. The legal limits were broadly similar to what we know today: relatively low-powered motors and assistance cutting out around 25 km/h.
But they weren't exactly the hottest thing on the streets.
Most people thought of e-bikes as slow, heavy and somewhat boring. They were often associated with people who needed a little extra assistance rather than people who wanted to get outside and have fun.
Then younger riders discovered something.
E-bikes could be fast.
They could climb hills, travel much further than a normal bicycle and turn a mountain bike into something completely different.
Suddenly, e-bikes weren't just about providing assistance. They were exciting, and they allowed people of all ages to travel further, explore more and see places they might otherwise never reach by bicycle.
The younger generation helped make them cool, and the popularity of electric bikes grew rapidly.
The faster bikes weren't suddenly legal because they became popular. They were generally outside the legal definition all along.
But people wanted them anyway.
And that tells us something about the market.
The e-bike movement is bigger than the legal definition
From what we see, people aren't necessarily attracted to e-bikes because they want a bicycle limited to 25 km/h.
They want to travel further.
They want to climb hills without struggling.
They want to commute without arriving exhausted.
They want to explore.
And sometimes, they simply want to have fun.
That applies to teenagers, young adults, parents and plenty of older riders too.
It's worth remembering that not every rider on a faster e-bike is a teenager doing wheelies.
There are mature and elderly riders using faster electric bikes responsibly, wearing appropriate safety equipment, understanding their surroundings and simply enjoying the ability to travel further.
The problem is that the most irresponsible riders tend to attract the most attention.
We don't support dangerous riding
There is no question that some young riders have taken things too far.
Wheelies through traffic, excessive speeds around pedestrians and reckless riding around cars are dangerous.
We don't support that behaviour.
A faster e-bike can be extremely capable, and anyone riding one needs to understand that they are still vulnerable when sharing the road with cars.
But this is where we think something important has been missed.
Especially when it comes to young riders.
The 12–17 age group is a critical window
Think about how much effort goes into building a positive relationship between children and police.
Police officers visit kindergartens and schools. Children get to sit in police cars, talk to officers and learn that police are there to help them.
It's a great thing.
Building trust with children is important.
But then those children become teenagers.
Around 12 to 17 years old, they are becoming independent, forming their identity and starting to make their own decisions.
For many, an e-bike is one of the first things that gives them real freedom.
They can ride to their friends, the shops, sport or simply explore without relying on Mum or Dad.
Then, in some states, those same young people can suddenly find themselves being stopped by police, having their bike taken away and potentially seeing it destroyed.
We're not saying they should be allowed to ride dangerously.
They shouldn't.
But we do wonder whether there was a better opportunity here.
Because at an age when young people are forming their perception of authority, experiences like this can have a lasting effect.
The same police and government organisations that work hard to build trust with children don't necessarily want those same children entering adulthood with resentment or mistrust towards police.
What if we taught them first?
Rather than focusing almost entirely on taking bikes away, why not put more emphasis on education?
Imagine a proper learner program for young e-bike riders.
Teach them:
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Australian road rules - pre-learner pass
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How to safely approach intersections
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How quickly a car can approach
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Why drivers sometimes don't see cyclists
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Stopping distances
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Riding around pedestrians
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Helmet and safety requirements
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What actually happens when a bicycle is hit by a car
Most importantly:
Teach them that they aren't invincible.
A teenager travelling quickly on an e-bike may feel completely in control.
But a car pulling out from a side street doesn't care how confident they are.
That lesson could potentially be far more valuable than simply taking the bike away.
Perhaps age, training and experience could eventually play a role in determining what different riders are permitted to use.
For example, could there be different classes of e-bike, with appropriately trained and licensed adults permitted to travel at speeds of up to 45 km/h?
That is still considerably slower than many road cyclists travelling along major roads, yet could provide a useful middle ground between a 25 km/h pedal-assist bicycle and an electric motorcycle.
Schools are missing an opportunity too
Another thing that seems backwards is the growing number of schools (or laws for under 16's) restricting or banning students from riding even legal electric scooters to school.
For many families, an electric scooter or bicycle is an incredibly practical way for a child to get to school.
It can mean:
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No school drop-off traffic
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Less reliance on parents for short trips
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Less congestion around schools
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More independence for teenagers
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More time outdoors
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A cheap and convenient form of transport
Of course, children need to ride safely and within the rules.
But simply banning these forms of transport doesn't teach them how to use them responsibly.
Better infrastructure does.
Safe separated bike paths, safer intersections and dedicated routes to schools would benefit everyone — kids, parents, motorists and pedestrians.
If we want young people to use alternative transport, we need to make it safe and practical for them to do so.
The bigger picture
E-bikes have shown that people want a way to travel further, explore more and spend more time outdoors without always getting into a car.
They can be a fantastic form of recreation and an incredibly practical way to commute.
The challenge now is making the people using them safer, better educated and more responsible, while creating sensible options for different types of riders.
That could mean better education for young riders.
It could mean different classes of e-bike based on age, training and capability.
And it certainly means better infrastructure so bikes and electric micromobility aren't constantly competing with cars or pedestrians.
We don't support dangerous riding.
We don't support people putting others at risk.
And we're not taking a position on the laws themselves.
We're simply saying that, particularly with young riders, there may have been a better opportunity to educate rather than simply punish.
Because these kids are going to grow up.
And we'd much rather see them grow into adults who understand road safety, respect other people and respect the police — rather than adults who remember their teenage years as the time authority took away something they loved.