Reckless Riding Is Derailing Sydney’s E-Bike Boom
Authorities are cracking down on high-powered bikes as antisocial behavior and rising injuries offset the benefits of cleaner transport.
The benefits of responsible e-bike use are clear, but authorities in Australia are grappling with their darker reality.
Photographer: Isabella Moore for BloombergAfternoon commuters crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge in February watched in disbelief as 40 teenage e-bike riders wove in and out of busy lanes, pulling wheelies and bringing traffic to a standstill. The scene went viral on social media, fueling concerns about antisocial e-bike use across Australia.
It was far from a standalone incident. Local media regularly report on groups of young riders swarming high streets, speeding along freeways or endangering pedestrians. In mid-January at the Long Reef Golf Club in northern Sydney, players froze mid-swing as dozens of riders tore across fairways and greens.