Council unanimously passed a Notice of Motion last month to request the Police take action.

NOTICE OF MOTION NO 7/2023 - URGENT REQUEST FOR A SAFETY AUDIT OF ELECTRIC BIKE, ELECTRIC SCOOTER AND OTHER BIKE USAGE ON NORTHERN BEACHES SHARED PATHS, BIKE PATHS AND FOOTPATHS 068/23 RESOLVED That:

1. The Northern Beaches Council Local Traffic Committee, in partnership with the Northern Beaches Police Area Command, conduct an urgent safety audit of electric bike, electric scooter, electric rollerblades, electric skateboards and other bike usage, on Northern Beaches shared paths, bike paths, and footpaths. The safety audit should include consideration of, but not be limited to:

   • Speeding
   • Shared path design models and factors
   • Path separation versus segregation
   • Advisory speed signage
   • Education and communication campaign on electric bike, scooter and other bike legislative responsibilities
     • Regulatory factors, including Council Ranger and Police operations to target noncompliance with road rules applicable to electric bikes, scooters and other bikes
   • Review whether Council has appropriate regulatory powers to deal with unauthorised use of public space by cyclists/e-bikes (such as cycling on pedestrian footpaths).

2. The outcomes of the safety audit and the results of the Council’s in NSW and ACT trials be reported back to Council as a matter of urgency, with recommendations to mitigate the increasing risks associated with these safety issues. VOTING FOR: Unanimous

Here are some additional actions the Community Forum suggests be added to the Council Notice of Motion. Council should;

1. Engage with its own Youth Advisory Group to develop an education and safe youth e-bike riding program and determine infrastructure needs.
2. Work with State Government departments, other than the Police, to ensure e-bike use continues to increase,
3. Engage with general local bike riding community to achieve abe tter outcome for the community.
4. Work with all high schools to ensure that appropriate infrastructure to facilitate better e-bike user experience and education is adequate. This should include safe e bike parking areas, charging points, separate entry and exit points to the school grounds for e-bikes only. Driver safety is encouraged at high schools, why not safe e-bike riding?
5. Encourage all riders to consider obtaining insurance cover, both for accident as well as loss or damage to the bikes or other property.
6. Riders should be educated on safe e-bike battery maintenance and riding.
7. Map e-bike journeys and prioritise upgrading shared paths and roads to better accommodate all non-car driving users.
8. Continue reducing traffic speeds in residential areas to make the streets safer for all users.