“When we are out on push patrol people come up to us and say that they think this is a great idea,” Halls Gap Police Station’s Leading Senior Constable Kelly Harris said. 

E-bikes became controversial in Halls Gap after an oncoming E-bike hit a seven-year-old cyclist on the shared bike path along Grampians Road a month a go.

The seven-year-old sustained bruises and grazes from the incident. 

After the incident, police started doing pushbike patrol to ensure E-bike riders were riding responsibly. 

Ms Harris said her co-worker Sergeant Karen Bain and herself have been doing pushbike patrol once to twice a week when they can.

But they’ve “had a few spanners in the works”. 

“Things pop up that we have attend to” sometimes when they try and do bicycle patrol, Ms Harris said. 

One time they went out to do pushbike patrol but were called back to search for someone. 

E-bikes are capped at 25 kilometres per hour and can produce no more than 250 watts under Victorian road regulations.

Regulations also require the rider to pedal to access the power.

Any E-bike that travels over that speed limit and can produce more than 250 watts is classified as a motorcycle, under Victorian road regulations and the rider will be required to hold a motorcycle licence and would be unable to ride the bike on footpaths.

While doing pushbike patrol Ms Harris said police have fined several people from failing to wear a bike helmet, which is a $190 fine. 

But on the whole Ms Harris said most people have been doing the right thing.

“Pushbike patrol is not all about issuing fines.”

“It’s also about enforcing and acting on E-bike safety,” said Ms Harris.  

Halls Gap police will continue pushbike patrol for the near future. 

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