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The first e-bikes seized under new NSW laws have been crushed in Western Sydney, as hospitals report a 22 per cent spike in e-bike injuries and a quadrupling of child injuries since 2023.
Twenty-three illegal e-bikes were destroyed and turned into scrap metal at a wrecking yard in Blacktown, Western Sydney, on Thursday, the first batch crushed under new NSW laws.
The bikes were seized on the northern beaches using powers that came into effect in August, allowing police and transport officers to confiscate and dispose of non-compliant e-bikes without first seeking a forfeiture order through the courts. The transport minister, John Graham, told reporters at the demonstration that the tough new laws were necessary because of bad behaviour on the state's streets and golf courses.
"This isn't a scene from Mad Max. This is where illegal e-bikes go to die," Graham said. He stepped aside as a giant metal claw picked up a tangle of e-bikes, cracking frames in half and popping tyres before loading them onto a conveyor belt to be crushed and shredded. Batteries were removed beforehand for safe disposal and recycling.
Graham said riders must do the right thing.
"If you are on a high powered bike, if you have tampered with your bike, if it is illegal, if it's going too fast, it will be seized and it will be crushed," he said. The government said the crushed bikes included one capable of speeds above 90km/h seized from a 14-year-old, a food delivery bike, and bikes whose speed restriction settings had been tampered with. Police are assessing applications for the return of 13 more bikes.
Legal E-bike Speed And Power Limits
Under the rules, a legal e-bike must not exceed 25km/h, must have a maximum continuous power of 500 watts, reducing to 250 watts in March 2029, and its motor must cut out at 6km/h when the rider is not pedalling. On the same day, St Vincent's hospital released figures showing a 22 per cent spike in legal and illegal e-bike injuries, with 42 per cent of those injuries triggering a trauma response.
The hospital recorded 361 presentations for e-bike injuries between January and July, compared with 296 during the same period last year. The majority of injuries occurred while riders were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, riding too fast, or without a helmet. Dr Ed Lewis, acting head of rehabilitation medicine, said injuries included fractures, internal bleeding and the perforation of certain organs, as well as brain injuries from severe head trauma.
"With a severe brain injury there is a real high risk of death. What we try and promote with e-bikes is safety," he said. Lewis said milder knocks such as concussion can still have long-term repercussions. He told Guardian Australia that people thinking of riding an e-bike home while intoxicated need a plan B or a backup solution.
"The message that we want to say to people is: enjoy using e-bikes, but respect what they are. Respect that they are fast. Wear a helmet and just don't ride impaired," he said. Graham said the government was concerned by the injury numbers but it was important to keep them in context, noting e-bike injuries remain low compared with cars but are rising.
Rising Child E-bike And E-scooter Injuries
"If you're not wearing a helmet, you are dicing with danger," he said. Separate data from the Sydney Children's Hospital Network shows the number of children presenting with e-bike or e-scooter injuries has more than quadrupled since 2023. So far this year, 183 children have presented to Westmead and Randwick hospitals with e-bike or e-scooter injuries. There were 40 presentations in 2023, 78 in 2024 and 166 in 2025.
A spokesperson said electric vehicle injuries are now the third most common reason for admission. Injuries range from minor soft tissue injuries and bone fractures to deep tissue wounds, friction burns and severe head injuries. About one in five presentations have involved major trauma requiring intensive care, surgery and extended recovery, the spokesperson said. Graham said the government had received the final report of a review into minimum age limits for e-bike riders, which was due in June.
The expert review, led by Transport for NSW, recommended a legal age limit between 12 and 16 years.
Proposed Minimum Age Limit For Riders
"I want to be clear I don't think it's sensible to have primary school kids on these heavy e-bikes," Graham said. "I think the idea there's no age limit... makes common sense, but we need to strike the right balance. " The premier, Chris Minns, said in August the government was examining an age limit of 12 but had not finalised details.
On Tuesday, Graham would not say whether the premier had revealed the planned limit, saying he wanted to discuss it with colleagues and the public. The report will be released publicly at a later date following government consultation. Police could previously seize and destroy high-powered illegal e-bikes but first had to seek a forfeiture order through the courts, a lengthy and resource-heavy process the new laws are intended to streamline.
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abcnews:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Illegal E-Bike Crackdown E-Bike Injuries St Vincent's Hospital Sydney Children's Hospital Network
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