Riding bicycles to and from school

A number of students are riding bikes to school each day. Most of these are traditional bicycles, however, an increasing number of students are selecting to ride an e-bike to school.

There are great benefits to bike riding, particularly the reduction in local traffic and our environmental impact, as well as the promotion of physical activity. However, it is very important to remember that there are a number of safety and legal obligations for parents to consider when making the decision to allow your daughter to cycle to school.

Primary school students are safest when they are supervised by an adult when riding.
Children under 16 can ride on the footpath, unless there are signs prohibiting cycling.
All cyclists MUST wear a helmet and protective gear, understand and follow the road rules and give way to pedestrians.
All bikes should be in good safe working order fitted with working brakes, reflectors, a bell and lights.
All cyclists must store their bike safely and securely in the bike racks provided in the Primary School and Secondary School for the duration of the school day.

It is important to remember that these same rules apply to the riding of e-bikes, whether this is an e-bike that is personally owned or a rental, such as a Lime Bike. Students should NOT be riding e-bikes to school without a helmet at any time.

Additionally, it is important to note that in NSW there are a number of legal requirements that e-bikes must meet to ride them on NSW roads. These rules are:

a maximum continuous rated power of 500 watts
a motor that provides throttle power assistance up to 6km/h or when the rider is pedalling up to 25km/h
a motor that does not provide power at speeds higher than 25km/h.

E-bikes are typically heavier and faster than traditional bicycles, which can increase the force involved in a crash, heighten the risk of serious injury, and make them more difficult to control and manoeuvre. As a result, the NSW government is currently considering the introduction of minimum age limits to ride an e-bike on NSW roads. These restrictions are not yet in place, but it is important for parents to be aware that the government is considering recommendations of a legal minimum age between 12 and 16 for riding an e-bike in NSW due to the increased risk that e-bikes pose to the rider. We will provide more information on this issue when a decision has been reached.

The cycling route and surrounding traffic environment to and from school will be slightly different for each student. Sometimes the busy roads and conditions at specific times of the day can impact on rider safety and the safety of other road users and pedestrians. If the school deems that a student is displaying unsafe behaviours when riding to and from school, we may deny permission for the student to bring a bike to school.

Please take note of this information when considering allowing your daughter to ride either a traditional bicycle or an e-bike to school. If you have any questions, please reach out at any time.

Andrew Gallagher
Deputy Head of School