Hospital data show 153 e‑bike collision injuries at St Vincent’s Hospital in 2025, rising from 103 in 2024 and 45 in 2023, with injuries often resembling motorbike crashes and leading to severe outcomes.

Support for change comes from groups like the Australian Lawyers Alliance and the NSW Bar Association, which are urging the government to require registration and insurance for privately owned e‑bikes.

The Insurance Council of Australia urges private e‑bike owners to obtain standalone insurance for personal accidents and public liability to ensure protection.

Advocates contend e‑bikes can weigh as much as motorbikes and cause injuries that require lifelong care and income loss, underscoring the need for insurance for victims and to prevent uninsured parties from facing civil actions.

In New South Wales, compulsory third‑party insurance currently applies only to shared e‑bike schemes, leaving privately owned e‑bikes uninsured and creating a coverage gap for riders and injury victims.

Doctors and legal experts in NSW are pushing to extend compulsory third‑party insurance to private e‑bikes, aligning them with other road vehicles to close the compensation gap.

While safety concerns are acknowledged, opponents warn about practical challenges of implementation, given the young age profile of e‑bike users and potential financial and administrative burdens on riders and government.

As part of a broader safety push, NSW plans to reduce e‑bike power from 500 watts to 250 watts to harmonize regulations with other Australian states.

NSW authorities have not ruled out options, with Transport Minister John Graham saying the Treasury is exploring insurance paths and a public consultation on a possible scheme is expected to begin in 2026.

Some stakeholders prefer tightening regulations and improving at‑point‑of‑sale safety standards rather than mandating private insurance.