As the popularity of electric bikes surges across Australia, so too does the alarming rise in severe injuries associated with their use. Recent data from St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney reveals a staggering increase in ebike-related presentations, doubling from the previous year and raising urgent concerns about safety and regulation.
A Grim Statistic
In a stark revelation, St Vincent’s emergency department reported 200 ebike-related cases in 2025, a dramatic leap from 103 in 2024 and up by 350% from just 45 cases in 2023. This spike has drawn the attention of Dr Tony Grabs, the hospital’s trauma director, who emphasises the significant risks posed by these powerful machines. “You don’t understand the power of an ebike until you get on one,” he warns, recounting the case of a woman who, after a night out, jumped on a rental ebike for the first time and ended up in hospital with serious injuries.
Dr Grabs noted that nearly half of the patients treated required surgical intervention, with injuries ranging from broken ribs to ruptured bowels. “You can break ribs. You can have air leaking out of your lung. You can have a rupture of your bowel because something’s hit it – you might require a big operation on the stomach,” he explained. The severity of these injuries is compounded by the fact that many riders exceed safe speeds, with over half of 2025’s patients reporting speeds above 25 km/h.
Nighttime Dangers and Substance Abuse
The data also indicates a troubling trend: more than half of the injuries occurred at night, often involving alcohol or other drugs. This correlation raises critical questions about the safety protocols surrounding ebike use, especially in urban settings where nightlife thrives. Dr Grabs pointed out that the injuries sustained from ebikes are often more severe than those from traditional bicycles. “When you hit something stationary at high speed, it’s a different kind of impact,” he stated, underscoring the dangers of ebikes that are frequently heavier and faster than their non-electric counterparts.
Compounding the issue, many ebikes have been illegally modified to increase their speed and power, further escalating the risk of severe accidents. In a grim statistic, the state of New South Wales recorded 226 injuries related to ebikes in 2024, with that number already surpassed in the first seven months of 2025, which included four fatalities.
Regulatory Responses and Future Directions
The federal government’s response has been to tighten regulations on ebike imports, a move that follows a period of relaxed standards instituted in 2021. Effective from late 2025, new regulations will require ebikes to have motors that only activate while pedalling and limit their speeds to 25 km/h with a maximum power output of 250 watts. This is a significant reduction from the previously permitted 500 watts in New South Wales, reflecting growing concerns over public safety.
Dr Grabs acknowledged that St Vincent’s Hospital, located in the bustling CBD, may experience a higher incidence of ebike injuries compared to other facilities. The hospital is now looking to gather more detailed data on the types of ebikes involved in accidents to better understand the scope of the problem.
Why it Matters
The burgeoning crisis of ebike injuries in Sydney is not just a statistic; it reflects a broader public health emergency that demands urgent attention from policymakers and the community alike. As more individuals embrace ebikes as a convenient mode of transport, the risks associated with their use cannot be ignored. With serious injuries skyrocketing and regulations still catching up, it is imperative to address this issue before it escalates further, ensuring that safety measures are implemented to protect riders and pedestrians alike.
