Modified e-bikes are hurting people in the Illawarra, and NSW has crushed 22 so far

The ABC reported on 22 October 2026 that more than a dozen people on the NSW Illawarra coast said they were injured on or by suspected illegal e-bikes. Cases include a 14 year old Wollongong boy whose foot caught in the chain of a modified e-bike, and two toddlers hospitalised after being struck on a shared path. Sydney Children's Hospital trauma co-director Donovan Dwyer described a "dramatic and worrying" rise in e-bike trauma admissions.

What NSW law says now

Modified e-bikes are illegal in NSW. Laws introduced in March cap motor assisted speed at 25km/h and require the throttle to cut out at 6km/h unless the rider is pedalling. By early 2029 the maximum motor wattage will be halved to 250 watts, and the government is reviewing an age limit. Under laws introduced in August, Transport for NSW and police can seize and crush non-compliant devices. By October, 58 bikes had been removed and 22 crushed. The ABC notes that riding a non-compliant e-bike in public is illegal, but buying or selling one is not.

Gaps and next steps

NSW has an estimated 750,000 e-bikes, and it is unknown how many exceed the legal speed or power limits. Police Assistant Commissioner David Driver said the crackdown will expand once processes are right. Bicycle NSW's Peter McLean wants illegal imports stopped at the border, and the injured boy's mother is calling for rider registration or licensing.

What it means for buyers: a cheap bike that is easy to derestrict can end up seized, and you could be fined while the seller faces nothing. Ask for proof of EN 15194 compliance, avoid bikes sold with a removable limiter, and check the motor rating. Compare compliant e-bikes on BikeFinder before you commit.