Hours after a serious crash involving an illegally modified e-bike highlighted safety risks, the NSW government on Tuesday unveiled its answer to the rise in e-mobility devices.
It has proposed allowing e-scooters to be ridden on shared paths with a default speed limit of between 10 and 20km/h.
On roads signposted at 50km/h, they would be limited to 20km/h.
Riders would need to be at least 16, consistent with all Australian jurisdictions except the ACT - and European recommendations.
Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison admitted she was not yet sure who would enforce those speed limits, with neither local councils or police seemingly keen to take on the task.
Councils believe they do not have the resources or power, while an undermanned police force is already struggling with staffing issues.
"We know that is an area of challenge, but obviously, like all traffic, police are predominantly the ones responsible for enforcement," Ms Aitchison said.
"We'll be, of course, speaking to the police about how that can happen and what's the most effective way to do that enforcement."
The government does not intend to speed-limit e-bikes, as their motors are not the only source of power.
It will however review the formal definition of an e-bike within NSW's road rules.
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who chaired a parliamentary inquiry into e-mobility devices, said the government must not delay its work on e-bikes, particularly with a need to build dedicated parking infrastructure.
"It appears as though the government is content with leaving councils to deal with the problems that the rapid growth in shared e-bike schemes has created," she said.
"We were quite clear about the need for dedicated parking bays which ideally would be no more than 200m apart in high-density areas as well as allocating existing car spaces and ensuring e-mobility parking on all resurfacing and new road projects."
The inquiry response landed against the backdrop of a serious collision in Victoria, where two men were taken to hospital after one was struck by an illegally modified e-bike.
A 69-year-old pedestrian was hit by the bike in Hastings, on the Mornington Peninsula, and taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The rider, a 24-year-old man, was also seriously injured.
No charges have yet been laid over the incident.
NSW's inquiry made other recommendations, including establishing safety standards to reduce lithium-ion battery fires, a rider education campaign and investment in critical infrastructure and improving future design of shared paths.
E-scooters have been stuck in a legislative bind in NSW, being available to purchase but illegal to operate in public spaces.
The devices reduce small car trips, reduce strain on parking spaces and make train stations, jobs, services and retail precincts easier to access, advocates say.
Doctors used the parliamentary inquiry to urge MPs not to legalise the scooters for kids after a sharp increase in children presenting to emergency rooms with crash injuries.
NSW estimates there are around 1.35 million e-micromobility devices in homes statewide, with almost half of those used to connect with public transport.
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