Dozens of e-bike riders have swarmed a golf course on Sydney’s northern beaches, prompting further debate over the use of electronic cycles.

Police were called to the Long Reef Golf Club about 12.15pm on Friday, after reports “dozens of young people riding e-bikes” through the course.

The group had left the scene by the time patrolling police arrived.

Inquiries are continuing, a NSW Police spokesperson said.

Vision of the incident at the golf club, at Collaroy, was shared on Facebook by nearby Cromer Golf Club on Saturday, before being reposted by other users.

Long Reef Golf Club general manager Ben Russell said it was not an isolated incident.

“We currently, a couple of nights a week, would have vandalism from kids on e-bikes,” he told this masthead on Monday.

“It’s just senseless, but to this point fortunately there’s been no major damage that has been irreparable or taken holes out of play.”

Long Reef golfers reported the incursion as dozens of riders swarmed the course. Others have reached out to police and MPs urging them to crack down on e-bikes.

Russell said the convoy rode across the green and left some wheel marks and minor indentations.

“The damage wasn’t extensive, the disruption was,” he said.

Russell said he had “definitely not” had that many youths show up keen to play golf before.

But many in the group were simply along for the ride.

“There was probably … a dozen sort-of instigators that had zero respect for anyone around them … mouthing off.

“The rest of them were just kids who were out following the crowd.”

Local independent media outlet, Manly Observer, also shared footage on Friday of a large group of young people riding e-bikes through the streets of the northern beaches.

“Heads up, the dudes are on parade today,” the outlet warned.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward said the sight was “quite intimidating”.

“It’s swarms of gangs of kids on bikes, and literally, it’s e-bike cowboys,” she told 2GB on Monday.

“Thirty to 50 kids on a bike swarming together, that horrific video footage of the golf course being torn up by kids riding on it and tearing up the greens there.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward says gangs of young people on e-bikes are intimidating.© James Brickwood

“It’s got to be incredibly intimidating for people.

“We all want them out riding bikes. We want them being healthy and getting off screens, but we want them doing it safely with community support, not these mass rideouts,” she said.

Another group involved in a “mass rideout” were captured in another video at Cronulla over the weekend.

The opposition has been calling for number plates on e-bikes for “specific cohorts” including riders under 18 to help with identification.

Number plates for teens riding e-bikes has been proposed.© Max Mason-Hubers

The government is considering insurance for private e-bikes as recommended by a parliamentary inquiry, after introducing laws requiring shared e-bike schemes to be covered by compulsory third-party insurance.

Transport Minister John Graham has said the government is open to working with the opposition, but last week questioned how effective a number plate scheme would be and the resourcing it would require.

Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman Harold Scruby told Nine News parents need to be aware of the dangers.

“If their children are riding unregistered, uninsured motorbikes, they could be liable for any injuries sustained,” he said on Sunday.

E-bikes have come under increasing scrutiny, including recent calls from doctors and lawyers to force riders to be covered by the same green slip insurance as other vehicles on the road.

Premier Chris Minns announced plans to halve the power limit of e-bikes in December.

It came hours after the death of a rider at Ultimo, one of four people who died on e-bikes in NSW in 2025.