The new eBike law in Australia as of 2025-2026 is not a single new federal law but a clarification and enforcement of existing rules under EN15194 and state road rules, with some states tightening enforcement on illegal high-powered e-bikes. The legal definition remains: a compliant e-bike is a pedalec with a maximum continuous rated power of 250 watts, where motor assistance only operates when pedalling and cuts out at 25 km/h, and can have a low-speed 6 km/h walk-assist throttle. These e-bikes are legally classified as bicycles, so no licence, registration or CTP is required, but you must wear a bicycle helmet and obey bicycle road rules. What is new is enforcement. NSW Police, Victoria Police and Queensland Police have run major operations in 2024-2025 targeting illegal throttle e-bikes and e-motos like Surron, Talaria and high-powered 500W-2000W fat bikes that can reach 50-90 km/h. These are now being actively defected and seized as unregistered motor vehicles with fines up to $3,000. Several states have also clarified that e-bikes that exceed 250W cannot be ridden on shared paths and footpaths, and riders must have a motorcycle licence and the bike must be registered as a moped if it exceeds power limits, which most cannot meet due to no ADR compliance. In terms of footpath access, most states still allow legal 250W pedelecs on shared paths with a 25 km/h limit and on footpaths for riders over 16 in QLD and other states with speed limits.
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