Ebike 'Swarms' Take Over Australian Roads and Parks

Dozens of ebike riders roll over the undulating green of a north Sydney golf course sparking concerns not only for the condition of the fairways but also for the safety of the people meeting for mass “rideouts”. On Friday, after the estimated 60 young people rode through the green of the Long Reef Golf Club, the incident was reported to New South Wales police. A spokesperson said officers conducted a patrol, but the bikers had already “left the scene”. The next day in Melbourne, about 100 similar bikes took over roads in Melbourne, before the riders converged on Docklands in a planned meet-up. Ebikes, particularly so-called “fat bikes” which have been described as the monster trucks of the cycling world, have gained cult status among young Australians. But an increasingly common scene on city and suburban streets – young people zooming around in packs – is irking some in the community and raising safety concerns. Peter McLean, the chief executive of Bicycle NSW, said he has been sent videos and messages about various incidents of “swarms, or meetings of teenagers” on ebikes. Sign up: AU Breaking News email A few weeks ago, community members posted to a Facebook group for the Sutherland shire that they had seen “a huge ebike gang” of at least 40 people swarming the streets of Cronulla. “We really recognise the tremendous opportunity that ebikes can offer for getting anyone, including younger people, from A to B, independently,” McLean said. “[It] is a really, really positive thing that connects them to education, to work, to social things and communities as well. “There’s lots of benefits that go along with them, but when we have really high powered ebikes and people driving them dangerously and without helmets, then they certainly pose a significant risk.” The general manager of the Long Reef Golf Club, Ben Russell, said there was no extensive damage done to the course during Friday’s ride – but added that it was disruptive. “This incident is not isolated,” Russell said. “Over the past 12 months, the club has experienced an increasing number of vandalism events involving ebikes entering the course after hours, skidding on greens and fairways, and damaging maintained turf areas. “In response, the club is in the process of installing mobile CCTV camera towers at multiple locations around the course.” Meanwhile, Victoria police said it was aware of Saturday’s meet-up of about 100 ebike riders in Melbourne. After “several reports of incidents during the event where riders were seen travelling at dangerous speeds, using the wrong side of the road, weaving around traffic, riding on footpaths and running red lights”, police were investigating the incident. Almost two years ago, Harold Scruby, the chief executive of the Pedestrian Council, raised concerns over safety for both riders and pedestrians. He pointed to a lack of regulation and the illegal modification of fat bikes beyond the parameters of a bicycle, which essentially makes it like “riding a motorbike on a footpath”. In December, the NSW premier, Chris Minns, announced a plan to halve ebikes’ power – and therefore reduce their top speeds – to 250 watts, after a rider died in a collision with a garbage truck. McLean said that adoption of a regulatory framework could assist in curbing dangerous behaviour. Last November, transport ministers from around the country agreed to work towards a regulatory framework for ebikes to ensure safe and consistent supply and use of the bikes. “It’s something we’ve urged for some time,” McLean said. “For about four or five years, we’ve been able to basically import anything we like into the country, and that’s resulting in a few challenges.”