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If your kids are anything like mine, the Christmas wish list requests have been in overdrive recently. My 14-year-old teenager has been particularly keen on the idea of a cruiser e-bike, because "lots of friends at school have them". Spoiler alert, she won't be getting one. But it can be a difficult area for parents to navigate, especially when there's so much pressure on children to fit in with friendship groups. And for busy parents, the idea of their child being able to have some independence to get where they need too is understandably appealing. But there are some important things to weigh up if you're considering buying an electric bike or scooter for your child or teen. Are kids allowed to have e-bikes? Technically it is not illegal for children to have an e-bike or e-motorcycle in Australia, because most of them are sold under the proviso that they're only used on private property under adult supervision. It is this loophole that is allowing powerful electric bikes to end up in the hands of young children, according to Matthew Burke, an adjunct professor of transport and urban planning at Griffith University and CEO of Bicycle Queensland. "These are legal vehicles, but there's not a lot of space you can drive on a suburban block," he says. "So, they are being ridden on the street, on roads and on our bike paths." Many states and territories have no minimum age limit for riding a power-assisted pedal cycle or electrically power-assisted cycles, while others require riders to be at least 16. You can find a state breakdown of the rules at the bottom of this page. In Australia, pedal-assisted e-bike motors must not generate more than 250 watts of continuous power or exceed 25 kilometres per hour while being ridden on roads or in public, unless you live in New South Wales where they must not exceed 500 watts. Mr Burke says a lot of e-bikes are sold on the premise that they meet these speed requirements, but many have much more powerful motors, with speed limiter controls that can easily be unlocked by savvy children. Experts say there are some e-bikes and electric motorcycles available that can reach speeds of more than 60km/h. Mr Burke says he would not recommend buying an electric bicycle for a child under the age of 16. He suggests seeking out a reputable seller who specialises in pedal-assisted e-bike models that meet the legal specifications. "There's a number of those that are partner bike shops of Bicycle Queensland, you can find them on our website," he says. "They will be able to tell you in very clear terms what is legal and what is illegal. "There are a range of legal e-bikes that are fantastic … particularly the e-mountain bikes, which allow you to get into the trails. What age can a child ride an electric scooter? Most states and territories require riders to be at least 16 years old to ride a personal mobility device on their own, or at least 12 years old with an adult supervising them. Personal mobility devices can include: e-scooterse-skateboardsself-balancing single-wheeled devices (such as e-unicycles and e-boards) They must have a max speed of 12km/h on footpaths or 25km/h elsewhere. Mr Burke says he recommends people purchase e-scooters that have "a larger front wheel" for safety reasons. "They go over objects in the built environment [better], so if you're on a standing scooter, you're particularly prone to the face plant crash," he says. "There are rules on the lengths and the widths of such a vehicle. Susan Teerds, from child safety advocacy group Kidsafe, says children younger than 16 generally do not have the cognitive ability to assess risk when using personal mobility devices or e-bikes. "Generally speaking, younger children do not understand that vehicle, or that truck, is going too fast to stop in time and [they could] slip in front of them very quickly," she says. "Children should not be in this situation." What are the risks to my child riding e-bikes and e-scooters? There have been serious injuries reported and even deaths from children riding e-bikes and e-scooters in Australia. A report by the Queensland Family and Child Commission says there are significant challenges to accurately access national fatality rates, but data shows there were five children killed on e-scooters and e-bikes in Queensland last year. It says analysis of the incidents identified: Most incidents occurred on a weekday during the school termAll incidents occurred between 8:00am–8:30am and 3:00pm–7:30pmIn most cases, the child was the rider of the device, was riding on the road or attempting to cross a roadway and involved a collision with a vehicle Can I be fined for my child riding an e-bike or e-scooter? Some police jurisdictions are beginning to crack down children riding e-bikes in public spaces, with parents in Queensland, for example, being fined $258 for allowing teenagers to ride non-compliant e-bikes or electric motorcyles in public spaces. Other states enforce fines of up to $1,018 for people caught riding an overpowered or non-compliant e-bike. Queensland solicitor Henry Garrett says, generally speaking, the same road rules apply to e-bikes as other bike users. Penalties in other jurisdictions can include fines for holding a mobile phone while riding, negligent or dangerous riding and fines of more than $1,900 for exceeding speed limits. E-bikes and scooters at increased risk of fire and theft Experts warn that low-quality e-bikes and e-scooters are a fire risk to consumers, particularly those who rely on charging them at home. Professor Yuan Chen from The University of Sydney School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering says cheap, poorly made batteries and devices hold a higher risk of igniting. "The companies are basically trying to make the most effective product," he said. When a lithium-ion battery is left to overcharge, such as overnight, it can overheat. Although the batteries have a casing designed to protect the battery from air and heat, it is not foolproof. "But if the casing is broken, and if air and moisture goes in, they will react with those components [in the battery] and cause a fire," Mr Chen says. The popularity of the electric bikes and scooters, some valued at thousands of dollars, also makes them a target for thieves due to their increased value and expensive electric batteries. New South Wales police urge e-bike and scooter owners to take the following precautions: Engrave or mark the frame with a UV pen, micro-dot or other permanent meansRecord the serial number, brand and model and take a photoUse a quality bike lock Bike registration website Bikelinc operates in Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, and helps police identify and return stolen goods if they are recovered. Here's a state breakdown of the rules around e-bike age limits.
