In short:
A number of illegal e-bikes were destroyed at a wrecking yard in Western Sydney.
asserted
number → destroy → Sydney
The e-bikes were seized by northern beaches police under new laws to streamline enforcement capabilities.
asserted
bikes → seize → capabilities
NSW Transport Minister John Graham said the government was consulting on a review into e-bike age limits.
asserted
government → say → limits
Authorities are ramping up the crackdown on illegal e-bikes by sending them straight to the crusher, as concerns grow over the increase in riders suffering "traumatic" injuries.
asserted
riders → ramp → injuries
On Thursday, 23 illegal e-bikes were destroyed and turned into scrap metal at a wrecking facility in Blacktown, in Western Sydney.
asserted
bikes → destroy → Sydney
The e-bikes were seized in the northern beaches under new powers given to police to confiscate and dispose of non-compliant e-bikes.
asserted
bikes → seize → bikes
"This is where illegal e-bikes go to die," Minister for Transport John Graham said at the live demonstration on Thursday.
asserted
Graham → go → Thursday
Police could previously seize and destroy high-powered illegal e-bikes but were required to first seek a forfeiture order through the courts, a lengthy and resource-heavy process.
uncertain
Police → seize → courts
Earlier in the year, the NSW government introduced new laws to extending seizure powers to police and Transport for NSW to streamline enforcement action.
asserted
government → introduce → action
The batch of e-bikes destroyed on Thursday was the first to be crushed since the legislation was introduced, with Mr Graham reiterating riders were required to "do the right thing".
"If you are on high powered bike, if you have tampered with your bike, if it is illegal, if it's going too fast, it will be seized and it will be crushed."
Transport for NSW legislation states a legal e-bike must have a maximum continuous power of 500 watts, and a motor function that cuts out at 6 kilometres per hour if the rider is not pedalling.
asserted
rider → destroy → hour
They must also not exceed speeds of 25km/h.
asserted
They → exceed → km/h
Acting director of rehab medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital Ed Lewis said about 42 per cent of the patients who had presented to the hospital with e-bike-related injuries required a "trauma response".
asserted
who → act → response
Dr Lewis said the hospital often received patients suffering head injuries, internal bleeding and organ perforation.
asserted
hospital → say → injuries
The most serious injuries were attributed to not wearing a helmet and riding under the influence or at high speed, he said.
asserted
he → attribute → speed
What we try and promote with e-bikes is safety," he said.
asserted
he → try → bikes
"So we want people to be wearing helmets, we want people to be acknowledging that they’re really fast, so watching their speed, but also making sure they’re not driving or riding an e-bike impaired where they’re using drugs or alcohol as well.
asserted
they → want → drugs
E-bike injuries in children quadruple
asserted
injuries → quadruple → children
According to new data from the Sydney Children's Hospital Network, the number of children presenting with injuries from e-bikes or scooters has more than quadrupled since 2023.
uncertain
number → accord → 2023
So far this year, 183 children have presented to Westmead and Randwick hospitals with e-bike or e-scooter injuries.
asserted
children → present → injuries
A spokesperson for the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network said injuries from electric vehicles were now the third most common reason for admission.
asserted
injuries → say → admission
"Children's injuries range from minor soft tissue injuries and bone fractures through to deep tissue wounds, friction burns and severe head injuries," the spokesperson said.
asserted
spokesperson → range → wounds
"Around one in five presentations have involved major trauma, requiring intensive care, surgery and extended recovery."
There were 40 presentations for injuries related to e-bike and e-scooters in 2023, compared to 166 in 2025 and 78 in 2024.
asserted
presentations → involve → 2024
Mr Graham said the government had received the final report into a review of minimum age limits for e-bike riders, which was due in June this year.
asserted
which → say → June
The expert review, led by Transport for NSW, had recommended a legal age limit between 12 and 16 years.
asserted
review → lead → years
"I want to be clear I don't think it's sensible to have primary school kids on these heavy e-bikes," he said.
asserted
he → want → bikes
"I think the idea there's no age limit...makes common sense, but we need to strike the right balance."
asserted
we → think → balance
The report will be released to the public at a later date following government consultation.
asserted
report → release → consultation
The Aporia