FAQS

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.

Where can I ride my bicycle, ebike and other wheeled devices in NSW?

Learn about where it is legal to use bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, skateboards, mobility scooters and other wheeled devices in NSW.

TfNSW Rules for where you can ride bicycles, ebikes and other wheeled devices in NSW.

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.

How to store e-bikes on school grounds?

The department’s Health, Safety and Staff Wellbeing's Risk Management Process support and resources, common hazard factsheets provide the following advice:

• 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 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.

Can a principal ban or deny the students from bringing of bikes/e-bikes, wheeled devices onto school grounds?

How a student travels to and from school is the responsibility of the parent or carer.

A principal cannot enforce how a student should or should not travel to school.

However, a principal can deny/ban the bringing of bikes, scooters, skateboards and other wheeled devices onto school premises if:

• it is identified that the traffic environment is unsafe for students to ride in
• the wheeled devices onsite present a hazard and/or safety risk to others
• the wheeled device is illegal or illegally ridden on NSW road and road related areas, such as footpaths
• there is a persistent display of unsafe behaviour when travelling, and there has been extensive consultation between school staff and the school community to identify, address and resolve the concern.

What can a principal do to ensure the safety of their students on e-bikes?

The school has a duty of care to ensure all students travel to and from school as safely as possible.

If a student is observed arriving at or leaving the school without wearing a properly fitted helmet, riding an unroadworthy and/or illegal bike, or engaging in unsafe riding behaviour, they should:

• notify the student to walk with their bike, and not ride their bike until the condition is met
• inform parents and carers of how students are expected to ride safely and follow the road rules to and from school and/or maintain their bike
• provide contextualised teaching and learning activities about safe travel to and from school, including safe riding behaviours, safety gear and helmets
• notify relevant authorities if the school becomes aware of a traffic infringement issue, or efforts to liaise with parents and carers do not result in improved student riding behaviours.
• document all the above actions.

Advice from DoE Legals - About road safety Banning riding to school (staff only)

(sample bicycle and wheeled device templates available - staff only)