Helmets & Lights for E-Bike Commuters in Melbourne
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E-bikes get you up to speed quickly, which makes being seen — and protecting your head — more important, not less.
Helmets
Victorian law requires e-bike riders to wear a properly fitted, approved bicycle helmet, same as on a regular bike.1 Look for the Australian standard compliance sticker (AS/NZS 2063) [verify sticker on the specific helmet]. Replace a helmet after any crash or impact.
Features worth having for commuting: good ventilation for summer, a rear light mount or built-in light, and a fit system you can adjust over a beanie in winter.
Lights
Victoria Police advises using lights in low light — at night, in bad weather and in poorly lit areas.1 At night the road rules require a white front light, a red rear light and a red rear reflector, visible from a set distance [verify current distances in the Road Safety Road Rules 2017, r.259].2
- Run a flashing rear light in the day, too — Melbourne winter afternoons are dark early.
- A front light with a cut-off beam stops you dazzling people on shared paths like the Merri Creek Trail.
- Many e-bikes have built-in lights powered by the main battery: handy, but carry a small backup.
Also useful
A bell is mandatory (bell, horn or similar).1 Reflective details on bags and clothing help side-on visibility.