New England Highway Patrol Police Sergeant Dave Bramble has spoken out in support of Roads and Freight minister Duncan Gay announcing an across-the-board ban on petrol-powered bicycles as of tomorrow.
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Sgt. Bramble said while the bicycles have presented a continuing enforcement issue for police, the danger to riders and pedestrians has been an ongoing issue across the state.
He said the bicycles are not adequately constructed to travel at speeds of up to 40km per hour and said their operation, both on an off road, presents a significant danger to the rider and others.
“It has always been a matter of opinion really on whether they have been legal or illegal and it has always been very hard for police to prove because of the wattage that the motor had to put out,” Sgt. Bramble said.
“A ban across the board is a good thing.”
The new legislation will come into effect from Wednesday and Sgt. Bramble said there is no excuse for riders failing to comply with the new rules.
“People have been given ample notice regarding this, so basically from October 1 we will be enforcing the legislation,” he said.
“Anyone caught riding one is looking at least $600 worth of fines.”
Mr Gay made similar statements during the announcement.
“Given the safety risk associated with petrol-powered bikes, I didn’t want to wait for a national position,” he said.
“We saw three lives lost last year including the tragic loss of a young 14-year-old boy in Western Sydney. That’s three lives too many.
“Petrol-powered bicycles operate like a motorcycle, making them a serious road safety hazard in young hands.
“These bikes can travel at high speeds but their brakes and other safety components are only designed for standard bicycles. This means they take much longer to stop than a standard bike, greatly increasing the risk of crash.
“We’ve seen too many injuries as lives lost because of these bikes and I make no excuse for putting my foot down to get rid of them.”
He said the ban would include all bicycles that have a petrol-powered engine attached after purchase, as well as bikes that were purchased with a petrol-powered engine or are powered by any type of internal combustion engine.
The Minister said legal bicycles with complying 250 watt pedelacs and 200 watt power assisted pedal bicycles will not be affected as a result of the new legislation, but Sgt. Bramble urged prospective buyers to make inquiries to ensure the bicycle is legal.