Riding e-bikes and e-scooters
Parents are responsible for their child's travel to and from school.
However, schools also have a duty of care to ensure that students are travelling as safely as possible.
This duty of care extends beyond the school grounds and official hours, encompassing situations like excursions, travel to and from school, and participation in TAFE/VET courses or work experience, whether during or outside of regular school hours. (Legal Services Duty of Care and Behaviour Management)
What is an e-bike?
An e-bike is a bicycle that is powered with rechargeable batteries, providing electric assistance while pedalling.
Are students permitted to ride an e-bike?
Yes.
Students can ride a privately owned e-bike if it meets Transport for NSW’s requirements.
How to store e-bikes on school grounds?
The department’s Health, Safety and Staff Wellbeing have advised:
charging of e-bike lithium-ion batteries is not permitted on department sites
- e-bikes are to be stored in a location away from structures, as advised by WHS
Although NSW legislation does not mandate a specific distance for storing e-bikes away from structures, general guidelines emphasise that storage areas should minimise fire risks. This includes keeping batteries and e-bikes in well-ventilated spaces, away from flammable materials, and not within enclosed structures where a fire could easily spread.
Are petrol-powered bicycles permitted on NSW roads?
No.
All petrol-powered bicycles are illegal on NSW roads and road-related areas such as footpaths, shared paths, cycle ways and cycle paths. Petrol-powered bicycles can only be used on private property.
Are students permitted to ride an e-scooter?
No.
In NSW, it is illegal to ride a privately owned e-scooter on roads or road-related areas, including footpaths, shared paths, cycle ways and cycle paths.
Privately owned e-scooters can only be ridden on private property.
Are students allowed to ride an e-scooter in a trial area?
E-scooter shared schemes are being trialled in designated local government areas in NSW.
Riders must be 16 years or older to hire and ride a shared e-scooter within a trial area.
Hired shared scheme e-scooters are only able to be used on roads and road-related areas in the designated e-scooter trial areas.
Find out further advice from Transport for NSW and conditions for e-scooter trial areas.
Resources to share with families
A variety of resources are available to help schools manage and communicate with families on how to keep their children safe when riding bicycles or e-bikes to and from school.
E-bikes advice for families TfNSW (PDF - 1.5MB)
E-scooter advice for families TfNSW (PDF -1.5MB)
Sample bicycle/e-bike templates - DoE safety guidelines for parents and carers
Actions required by schools
If students are riding to and from school using petrol-powered bicycles or e-bikes that don't comply with legislative standards, principals should:
- inform the student and their parents/carers that it is illegal to ride these bicycles outside private property
- deny the storage of petrol-powered bicycles or illegal e-bikes on school property.
If students are riding personal e-scooters to and from school, principals should:
- inform the student and their parents/carers that it is illegal to ride e-scooters outside private property
- deny the storage of e-scooters on school property.
Further support for schools
Department of Education
Students will critically analyse the regulations surrounding e-bikes in New South Wales, exploring the distinctions between power-assisted pedal cycles, electrically power-assisted cycles, and the prohibition of petrol-powered bicycles.
- Advice to schools about students riding safely to and from school
- Contact the department Road Safety Education team for more information.
Transport for NSW
Other information available:
- Transport for NSW brochure – Bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters (PDF -1.3MB)
- Transport for NSW – E-bikes and petrol-powered bicycles
- Transport for NSW - E-bikes – frequently asked questions