Do E-Bikes Need a Licence or Number Plate in NSW? (And Will It Improve Safety?)

As concern grows about e-bike safety in Sydney, more people are asking:

Do e-bikes need a licence? Should they have number plates or registration in NSW?

With rising reports of accidents and antisocial behaviour, these questions are understandable. But based on what we see on the ground working with riders every day, the proposed solutions may be missing the point.

Do e-bikes need a licence or registration in NSW?

No.

In NSW, legal e-bikes:

• Do not require a licence

• Do not require registration or number plates

• Are limited to a maximum assisted speed of 25 km/h

When compliant, they operate at similar speeds to a regular bicycle ridden by a reasonably fit rider.

Why is there pressure for licences and number plates?

There has been a noticeable increase in:

• accidents involving riders

• complaints about unsafe or antisocial behaviour

• concern about illegal or modified high-speed bikes

At the same time, more people are riding than ever before.

E-bikes are making cycling more accessible for:

• families using cargo bikes

• older riders

• people returning after injury

• those who need assistance with hills or longer distances

This is a positive shift—but when participation increases, incidents typically increase too.

If there were a similar surge in standard bicycle use, we would expect to see a similar pattern.

The real issue: lack of fundamental riding skills

From our work across Sydney, one of the most consistent issues is not speed—it’s control.

Many riders, on both standard bikes and e-bikes, have never been taught how to:

• start and stop in a controlled way

• ride at slow speeds

• maintain balance under load or on hills

• position themselves safely in traffic

• communicate clearly with others in shared spaces

These are fundamental skills.

Without them, riders are more likely to:

• wobble or overcorrect

• misjudge space and speed

• behave unpredictably around others

This is not an e-bike issue—it’s a bike riding skills issue.

Bikes are changing—and control skills matter more than ever

While legal e-bikes do not handle drastically differently from standard bicycles, they are often heavier—particularly cargo bikes or bikes carrying children or loads.

That added weight means:

• stopping distances can be longer

• braking needs to be more controlled and well-timed

• balance and low-speed control become more important

In practice, this places greater emphasis on fundamental riding skills.

We are also seeing a shift away from the idea that a bike is one-size-fits-all. More people are riding:

• cargo bikes carrying children

• e-bikes designed for transport rather than recreation

• bikes carrying loads or passengers

These uses are positive—they reflect bikes being used for real-world transport—but they require riders to have a higher level of awareness, control, and decision-making.

At the same time, some bikes in use:

• do not meet legal standards

• have braking systems that are not appropriate for their weight and speed

• are modified or capable of speeds well above 25 km/h

These factors—combined with rider skill level—can increase the severity of incidents.

Should e-bikes require a licence?

Based on what we see on the ground, introducing a licence requirement is unlikely to improve safety outcomes.

Licensing assumes that risk is primarily about regulating who can ride. In practice, the key issues are different:

• lack of fundamental control skills

• variation in equipment quality

• use of non-compliant bikes

A licence does not directly address any of these.

There is also a broader consideration. E-bikes are treated like bicycles because they are:

• accessible

• low-cost

• practical for everyday transport

Introducing a licence adds:

• cost

• complexity

• barriers to entry

This risks reducing access for:

• young people

• families

• people using bikes as everyday transport

Licensing becomes an administrative response to what is primarily a skills, equipment, and behaviour issue.

Would number plates or registration improve safety?

Number plates are often proposed as a way to improve accountability. However, there are practical limitations.

The rider is not always the owner

Bikes are frequently:

• shared within families

• borrowed

• used across multiple riders

A number plate identifies the bike—not necessarily the person riding it.

It does not address the root causes of incidents

Registration does not improve:

• riding skills

• braking ability

• decision-making

• awareness of others

Enforcement and cost

There are already laws covering:

• dangerous riding

• illegal high-powered bikes

A registration system would require:

• administration

• compliance monitoring

• enforcement resources

These resources may be better invested in:

• education

• equipment standards

• targeted enforcement

Barriers to access

Registration introduces cost and complexity, which can discourage uptake—particularly for people using bikes as everyday transport.

Difficult to apply consistently

Unlike cars, bikes are:

• shared

• borrowed

• used in different contexts

This makes consistent registration difficult to implement.

Risk of solving the wrong problem

Registration can create a perception of control without addressing:

• lack of training

• inconsistent messaging

• equipment issues

What we’re seeing on the ground

Working with councils, schools, and riders across Sydney, we are seeing:

• Many riders have no formal training

• Fundamental control skills are often missing

• Equipment quality varies widely

• Some illegal or modified bikes are being used in public spaces

We are also seeing a rapid increase in online information and training.

While this can be useful, it is not always clear:

• what standards or credentials sit behind some courses

• whether messaging is consistent

We have had riders and stakeholders ask how to verify the credibility of training they have received. In some cases, that is not straightforward.

This lack of clarity can contribute to confusion about what safe riding actually looks like.

Cycling is social—not just transport

Bike riding happens in shared environments:

• on paths

• on streets

• around pedestrians and other riders

Safe riding is not just about controlling the bike—it’s about:

• awareness of others

• communication

• respect

• understanding how to share space

These are social behaviours.

They are learned—and they need to be taught.

What actually improves e-bike safety

If the goal is fewer accidents and better behaviour, the most effective approaches are:

1. Practical rider training

Safe riding is a physical, decision-based skill developed through real-world experience.

2. Clear equipment standards

Including:

• compliant e-bike specifications

• appropriate braking systems

• safe battery practices

3. Consistent, credible messaging

Clear and aligned guidance reduces confusion and improves behaviour.

4. Education in schools and communities

There is an opportunity to build:

• riding skills

• awareness

• responsible behaviour

This supports safer and more respectful shared spaces.

A more effective path forward

Licences and number plates are administrative tools applied to a problem that is primarily about:

• skills

• equipment

• behaviour

The most effective way to improve safety is to:

• invest in rider education

• ensure equipment meets appropriate standards

• support consistent, practical messaging

Final thoughts

E-bikes are increasing participation in cycling and making it accessible to more people.

That is a positive shift.

The challenge is to support that growth safely.

Focusing on:

• fundamental riding skills

• appropriate equipment

• responsible, social behaviour

will do far more to improve safety than introducing systems that don’t address the underlying causes.