Picture this: A parent walks their toddler home from daycare, their child toddling ahead, happily exploring the world around them. Suddenly, an e-bike speeds past, barely missing them. The rider doesn’t slow down, doesn’t acknowledge the near-miss. The parent is left shaken, holding their child closer, wondering—what if?
This isn’t a rare scenario. As e-bikes gain popularity, they are appearing more frequently in parks, footpaths, and shared walkways — spaces where young children are meant to feel safe. But with little regulation and rising speeds, e-bikes are introducing serious and under-addressed risks, particularly for toddlers who are unpredictable in their movements and unaware of fast moving hazards.
The numbers confirm the concern. In New South Wales, 48 children were admitted to hospital in 2024 due to e-bike or e-scooter-related injuries. Five of those were hit as pedestrians (Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network). Studies also show that e-bike injuries tend to be more severe than those from regular bicycles, with higher rates of spinal and head trauma, often requiring emergency surgery (UNSW).
Why This Is a Problem
The issue isn’t that e-bikes exist — they are a valuable, eco-friendly transport option. The problem is where and how they are being used.
- Speed Risks: Many e-bikes legally travel up to 25 km/h, but some are illegally modified to exceed 45 km/h—faster than a school zone speed limit.
- Unregulated Spaces: Parks and footpaths, originally designed for pedestrians and families, are now shared with high-speed vehicles that don’t always have dedicated lanes.
- Toddler Vulnerability: Young children are still developing their awareness of danger and may step unpredictably into a rider’s path. Unlike adults, they can’t quickly react to avoid an oncoming e-bike.
Expert Insights: Why Change Is Needed Now
Child safety experts and trauma specialists are already raising concerns.
“Being hit by an e-scooter traveling at high speeds can cause serious injuries, and we’ve seen the impact of that in our Emergency Department.”
– Dr. Donovan Dwyer, Director of Trauma, Sydney Children’s Hospital
“Helmets are a vital form of safety protection and can significantly reduce the risk of serious head injuries when riding bikes and scooters of any kind.”
– Dr. SV Soundappan, Head of Trauma, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
While helmets help protect riders, they do nothing for pedestrians, particularly small children who may not see an e-bike coming until it’s too late.
What Needs to Change?
Parents should feel confident that parks and footpaths are safe spaces for their children. But right now, there are too many grey areas when it comes to where e-bikes can ride and at what speeds. To prevent further injuries, we need clearer regulations and enforcement.
- Stronger Speed Limits in Pedestrian Areas – No e-bike should be racing through a park or footpath at 25km/h.
- Designated No-Ride Zones – Parks, playgrounds and high-foot-traffic areas should be off-limits to e-bikes.
- Better Enforcement of Existing Rules – Many riders don’t follow the current speed and path-sharing guidelines, often because enforcement is lacking.
- Public Awareness and Education – Many parents and riders aren’t fully aware of the risks. Campaigns around safe e-bike use could make a big difference.
Final Thought: A Balanced Approach
E-bikes aren’t going away — they’re a fantastic mode of transport and a key part of sustainable city planning. But as they become more common, we need to ensure they don’t come at the cost of child safety.
The solution isn’t to ban e-bikes, but to create a system where they can co-exist with pedestrians safely. With the right regulations and enforcement, we can make sure that families don’t have to fear for their child’s safety while enjoying public spaces.
It’s time for local councils, policymakers and communities to take a proactive approach — before we see more injuries or worse, a preventable tragedy.
