E-bike riders have been put on notice, as the Albanese government pledges to crack down on the booming, but often reviled, transport option. The government has directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to develop a new, nationally consistent safety standard under Australian consumer law for e-bike use.Until now, the sale and use of e-bikes has been largely governed by a patchwork of state and territory laws, with jurisdictions such as Queensland and NSW carrying out their own crackdowns in recent years.However, the new standard is aimed at ensuring laws are consistent across states and territories when it comes to what battery-powered devices can be sold, including e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-skateboards.It would also draw “a firm line” against high-powered, high-speed devices linked to serious injuries and deaths, including children, the government said, having previously adopted the EN-15194 international safety standard, which ensures the electric motor is disengaged when the bike is travelling at 25km/h and caps the output at 250 watts.Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the move was an important step “on cracking down on unsafe and illegal e-rideables on our roads and in our communities”.“This standard will give Australians the confidence that the products being sold are legal and fit for purpose and will help keep Australians safe,” she said.Assistant Productivity Minister Andrew Leigh said e-bike buyers needed to have confidence in the safety of the product they were purchasing. “Nationally consistent standards will provide clearer expectations for manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike,” he said. Speaking to Sunrise, Mr Leigh admitted e-bikes were “a great addition to our transport network” and helped to reduce congestion.He said the federal government was working with the states and territories to address e-bikes already in circulation that might breach the new standards.“We’re addressing both sides of the challenge,” he said.E-bikes in NSW were already set to be restricted to 250 watts from August under the state government’s reforms, bringing it in line with other jurisdictions. At the same time, the state government has sought to crack down on the use of shared e-bikes, including laws targeting dumping and establishing new parking areas.