Advocacy: Why We Do What We Do
Mike Watson | Advocate Coordinator, Pedal Power ACT
This chapter takes a closer look at the rules that shape how electric-powered devices fit into the ACT’s active travel network. The goal isn’t to point fingers, but to help everyone, riders, walkers, and regulators alike, understand the boundaries as they stand today, and how they play out in practice.
Chapter Eight – Electric Power on Active Travel Networks
Electrically powered and electrically assisted vehicles are a fast-growing, constantly evolving part of transport in the ACT. They come in many shapes and sizes, but all fall into specific legal categories – or “sandpits” – that set out what can and can’t be done on roads, active travel paths, and public spaces.
These vehicles also bring a wide range of stakeholders, each with strong views on how they should be managed. Before we get into those perspectives, let’s look at the main categories in the ACT.
Privately Owned ‘Slower’ Electric Vehicles
This group covers devices that provide some or all of the motive power up to 25Km/h (or 15Km/h on a footpath) and have a maximum continuous motor output of 250 watts. Examples include:
One-wheel boards
Throttle-controlled e-bikes (no pedalling required)
Where they can go: footpaths, shared paths, or bike lanes. If none are available, they can use the road – but only for the shortest distance necessary.
Pedelec-Compliant E-Bikes
These meet the European standard EN15194 (key points only – the full standard isn’t cheap):
Power can operate without pedalling, but only up to 6 km/h.
Pedal assistance can operate up to 25 km/h.
Above 25 km/h, the motor stops and only human power is available.
E-bikes that don’t meet EN15194 can still be legal if the motor is 200 watts or less under certain conditions.
All Electric Vehicles Above 250 Watts
Anything over 250W – if used on a road, active travel path, or in public space – must:
Be registered and insured
Be operated by a suitably licensed rider
Meet all standard motor vehicle laws
What’s Legal – and the Role of Police
Minimum age, helmet use, and other safety requirements apply. Riding under the influence of alcohol or other impairing substances is prohibited. Police have full authority to enforce laws for all vehicles on the road network, active travel paths, and public spaces.
The E-Bike Question in Practice
I ride both a traditional road bike and a legal e-bike. On the flat, my road bike is faster – except uphill. The e-bike “flattens” hills, keeping my speed closer to 25 km/h, while on the road bike I slow more noticeably. The e-bike also leaves me far less sweaty at my destination.
In practical terms:
If an e-bike can match normal road-bike speeds (mid-30s km/h on the flat, mid-40s km/h downhill) and hold 25 km/h uphill with the rider pedalling, it’s likely compliant – so long as the pedals are turning under obvious leg power.
Of course, all normal safe-riding rules for roads and paths still apply.
Why Pedal Power is Interested
Two main reasons:
Member use: Many of our members now ride e-bikes for the same activities and in the same places they ride traditional bikes.
Network change: What used to be “the bike-path network” is now a multi-user path network shared by everything from pedestrians to legally slow scooters to illegally fast “e-things.” This variety changes how the network works in practice, and Pedal Power aims to help all users understand what’s legal, what’s safe, and how to share the space respectfully.
Final Thoughts
The diversity of users on our paths will only keep growing, and so will the challenge of keeping it safe and fair. Current laws give police the tools to manage unsafe behaviour, though not always with the same precision used for cars, and that’s okay for now.
Our role as advocates is to explain the rules, highlight the gaps, and keep pushing for a system that works for all active travellers without compromising our independence.
