Pedal to the metal: the rules e-bikers may not know they're breaking

More than 30 fines were issued and 28 non-compliant e-bikes were identified in a month-long police operation in Sydney's Northern Beaches between June 17 and July 15.

NSW Police Bike Unit coordinator Sergeant Brett Barnes said there were three main compliance concepts to understand when riding an e-bike.

"The first thing is that the bike shouldn't be assisted by any motor over 25 kilometres an hour," Sergeant Barnes said.

"The motor itself should not be over 500 watts," he said.

"And any throttle that's present can only assist the rider up to six kilometres per hour."

He said from that point forward, any extra force should come from pedalling.

"The primary form of propulsion should be pedalling, with the motor assisting," he said.

Illegal e-bikes are not able to be registered in NSW and are therefore unregistered and uninsured motor vehicles, police said.

E-bike riders using the footpath must be under 16 years of age, or accompanying someone under 16 years.

If riders are using footpaths or shared paths, they are expected to keep left and give way to pedestrians.

Mobile phones must be hands-free or secured in a commercially manufactured phone holder fixed to the bike, police said.

Hefty fines apply to riders caught breaking road laws on e-bikes.

The illegal use of an e-bike will land riders a $818 fine, while holding a mobile phone and not wearing an approved helmet attracts a $410 fine.

Riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol may lead to fines or imprisonment and penalties apply for negligent or dangerous riding, police said.