The New South Wales (NSW) government has announced a significant crackdown on illegally modified electric bikes (ebikes), empowering police to seize and destroy any ebike that does not comply with the legal speed limit. Transport Minister John Graham stated that forthcoming laws will allow for the confiscation of ebikes that provide assistance beyond 25 km/h, which is the maximum allowed under current regulations. This initiative highlights a growing concern over safety and compliance on the state's roads, particularly in urban areas crowded with cyclists and electric vehicles.

The new measures will affect all illegally modified ebikes, even if the owner is unaware of the modifications. To enforce these new laws, the government plans to introduce portable speed-testing equipment, referred to as 'dyno units,' to facilitate the measurement of an ebike’s power output. This tactical shift aims to simplify the enforcement of speed regulations, which previously required a tedious court process to remove high-powered vehicles from the roads, thus enhancing operational efficiency for the police.

This crackdown comes in the wake of a controversial incident involving approximately 40 ebikes and e-motorcycles causing disruption on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The government's new stance not only seeks to address safety concerns associated with high-speed bikes but also reflects a broader initiative to regulate e-mobility solutions in urban settings. As such, authorities are keen to balance innovation in transport with public safety and legal compliance, a crucial discussion as more individuals adopt ebikes for transportation in cities like Sydney, where traffic congestion remains a persistent issue.