<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hundreds of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/electric-bikes" rel="" target="" title="e-bike"><span>e-bike</span></a><span> riders have been fined or cautioned and five have been charged with criminal offences in a major crackdown on the controversial ride-ons in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="" title="Sydney"><span>Sydney</span></a><span>'s south.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Many riders, including teenagers as young as 14, were caught riding modified and non-compliant bikes including some without pedals and others that were classified as motorbikes under the legislation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a two-day operation covering the Sutherland Shire, south Sydney and eastern beaches last week, police spoke to 215 e-bike and e-scooter users, issuing 170 fines and 99 cautions.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>FUEL CRISIS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-fuel-shortage-us-israel-iran-war-poll/02a537c7-5e01-4ea6-9a6e-15ff7ead3976" rel="" target="" title="One in three Aussies forced to change habits as petrol prices explode"><strong><span>One in three Aussies forced to change habits as petrol prices explode</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It comes as e-bikes continue to make headlines due to serious crashes and fatalities, with one major Sydney hospital saying </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/new-data-reveals-ebike-injuries-on-the-rise/7c84d86c-1647-499c-8f01-be5b8a7bc8e3" rel="" target="" title="admissions for e-bike injuries had skyrocked 350 per cent"><span>admissions for e-bike injuries had skyrocked 350 per cent</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In February, dozens of young e-bike riders were targeted by police after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ebike-sydney-harbour-bridge-footage/8eb12ffa-25bc-4d5a-8b35-d404e142e0ba" rel="" target="" title="filming themselves illegally crossing Sydney Harbour Bridge"><span>filming themselves illegally crossing Sydney Harbour Bridge</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In last week's police blitz, more than 250 people were breath tested and 26 people were drug tested, with five testing positive to drugs.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/electric-bike-crackdown-by-nsw-police-catches-riders-on-illegal-modified-bikes-drug-driving-sutherland-shire/01796d4e-9a49-4802-93c8-93d3206f3799" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Five people were charged with criminal offences and a further 21 received traffic charges.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Among them was a 25-year-old man who was stopped by police while riding an e-bike on the footpath on Denman Avenue, Woolooware, last Wednesday at 3.45pm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As his bike was deemed a vehicle under NSW legislation, the man was fined for riding an unregistered and uninsured bike and for riding without a motorbike helmet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was also issued a court attendance notice for riding while disqualified and had his bike confiscated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/woman-figthing-for-life-after-alleged-hit-and-run-nsw-mid-north-coast/8c171f76-049e-41e7-84b8-56c89caecb46" rel="" target="" title="Boy charged after alleged hit-and-run leaves woman fighting for life"><strong><span>Boy charged after alleged hit-and-run leaves woman fighting for life</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also allegedly tested positive to a roadside drug test.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In NSW, petrol-powered e-bikes or those exceeding 500 watts are not allowed on public roads, footpaths or cycleways and may be deemed vehicles requiring licencing and registration.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under the legislation, e-bikes must be primarily powered by the user and all assistance cut out once a speed of 25km/h is reached.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have warned that more blitzs on e-bikes are planned in the Sutherland Shire and at other locations across Sydney.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While e-bikes are a great mode of transport when ridden safely and most people do comply with the rules, police have seen an increase in illegal or anti-social e-bike rider behaviour," Traffic and Highway Patrol Operations Commander, Superintendent Anthony Boyd, said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We urge riders to learn and comply with the law."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&hl=en_AU&pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>
SHARE:
Leave A Reply
Your email address will not be published.*