Why short trips are better on two wheels, and rules worth knowing before you buy e-bikes.
The surf check used to be a drive. These days I do it on an e-bike, and I look forward to it. Up a hill, along the beachfront, a proper look at the banks from the headland. If it's on, I'm back for a surf. If it's flat, I've still had time outside and there's a coffee on the way home.
It feels like being a kid on a bike again, but with legs that don't get tired. You smell the salt. You hear the waves. You stop when something catches your eye.
Why e-bikes suit short trips to the beach and around town
Most of our driving is short. In Victoria, where the travel survey data is best, just over half of all car trips are under five kilometres, with 70% under ten.
A car is enormously over-specified for that. Tonnes of steel just to fetch milk and bread, with a parking problem at both ends. An e-bike does the same trip in about the same time and parks against a fence.
Half the trips we drive were never really car trips in the first place.
E-bike running costs and emissions compared with a car
Every car trip you swap for a ride is one less car at the lights and one less in the beach car park. New cars in Australia averaged 156 grams of CO2 per kilometre in 2024. An e-bike comes in well below that, with most of its footprint in the making rather than the riding.
The savings come along too. A full charge costs about twenty cents and gets you 50 to 70 kilometres. There's no rego, fuel or parking to pay for.
What makes an e-bike legal in Australia
Across Australia, a road-legal e-bike is one of two things. You don't need rego for either, and you wear a helmet like on any bike.
| Type | Motor power | How the motor works |
|---|---|---|
| Power-assisted bicycle | Up to 200 watts | Assists the rider |
| Pedelec certified to EN 15194 | Up to 250 watts | Helps only while you pedal and cuts out at 25km/h |
A few things worth knowing:
- NSW is moving to the national standard. It has allowed up to 500 watts, but from 1 March 2029 only 250 watt EN 15194 bikes will be legal on NSW roads and paths. Strict new enforcement powers are also coming, that you don't want to get caught on the wrong side of.
- An app setting doesn't make a bike legal. If a bike is only compliant because of a speed or power setting on an app or switch, it isn't compliant.
- Age and license rules vary. WA and Queensland have set minimum ages and NSW is working on one, so check your state's rules before buying for a teenager.
What to look for when buying an e-bike in Australia
Buy a 250 watt bike certified to EN 15194 and it's legal in every state now and after 2029. Check for an Australian compliance mark on the battery and charger too.
That's how the Super73 bikes we stock come: Australian spec, 250 watts, EN 15194 certified, with assistance up to 25km/h. They're fat-tyred and a little ridiculous-looking in the best way, and they're very much at home on a beachfront path. They come with a throttle, which in Australia is for private property only. On roads and paths, you pedal and the motor does the rest.
Lock it well, too. E-bikes are stolen far more often than their numbers would suggest, so a good lock and somewhere secure to keep it at home are part of the purchase.
How to charge an e-bike battery safely
Lithium-ion battery fires are rising around the country. A few habits take most of the risk away:
- Charge it in the garage, shed or carport, away from where anyone sleeps and clear of the way out. Hard floor, not carpet.
- Don't leave it charging overnight or while you're out.
- Use the charger it came with. A charger that fits isn't necessarily one that's safe.
- Stop using a battery that swells, gets hot, hisses or vents. If it catches fire, get everyone out and call triple zero.
Can you ride an e-bike in national parks?
Road rules and park rules differ by state, but in national parks an e-bike generally counts as a bike. That means park roads and management trails, and walking tracks only where they're signposted for bikes.
Why I've come round to e-bikes
I started bushwalking at fifty because I wanted more time outside. An e-bike does the same job on the days I'm not walking. It gets me to the water before work, or home the long way, and turns an errand I'd have driven into ten minutes with the wind on my face.
More next month. Go for a walk. Or don't, and ride.
Frequently asked questions
What wattage e-bike is legal in Australia?
Up to 200 watts, or a 250 watt pedelec certified to EN 15194 that cuts out at 25km/h. NSW currently allows up to 500 watts but moves to the 250 watt standard from 1 March 2029.
Do you need a licence or registration for an e-bike?
You don't need to register a compliant e-bike. Age and licensing rules vary by state, so check yours, especially for younger riders.
Can you use the throttle on an e-bike in Australia?
On a 250 watt EN 15194 bike, the throttle is for private property only. On public roads and paths the motor assists while you pedal and cuts out at 25km/h.
Can you ride an e-bike on walking tracks in national parks?
Only where a track is signposted for bikes. Otherwise stick to park roads and management trails. Rules vary by state and by park, so check before you go.
Where should you charge an e-bike battery?
Somewhere with a hard floor, away from where people sleep and clear of exits, like a garage, shed or carport. Use the charger that came with it and don't leave it charging overnight.
Sources
- Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel and Activity 2024-25 public dataset, for car trip distances
- National Transport Commission, on Australian light vehicle emissions intensity
- Australian Energy Regulator Default Market Offer 2026-27, used for the charging cost estimate
- Australian Road Rules and state transport authorities, on e-bike power limits
- Transport for NSW, on the 2029 transition to EN 15194
- Queensland and Western Australian government announcements on minimum ages and licensing
- Fire and Rescue NSW ChargeSafe, on battery charging safety
- State national parks agencies, on cycling access
- Super73 product specifications
About the author
Simon is 55, grew up in Melbourne and lives in Sydney's inner west. He took up walking at fifty and never really stopped, spends a decade of Sunday mornings on coastal care, and writes Sunday Sessions on the first Sunday of the month. He covers hiking for SurfStitch.
Get the gear
