Police received several calls on Tuesday after dozens of young e-bike riders, including some in school uniform and without a helmet, were filmed riding over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.Los Angeles-based e-bike influencer Sur Ronster organised the event and has told Nine newspaper Sydney Morning Herald he did not intend to lead the riders through the city, saying some even followed him home after the meet-up.
Ronster boasts more than 5 million online followers. (Fairfax Media)
“I’m unfamiliar with the city, it was my fault … once I saw what it became, my goal was to sort of put an end to it,” the 26-year-old said.
The creator, who has more than five million online followers, said he mistakenly found himself heading towards the landmark after becoming disoriented, resulting in a last-second decision to U-turn in the opposite direction in what he called a “very safe” manoeuvre.
“Fortunately, there was gridlock traffic at the time, so our lane was entirely stopped, and the oncoming lane was probably only going a few kilometres an hour at the time,” Ronster told the Sydney Morning Herald.
The content creator organised the rideout to meet-up with his followers. (Fairfax Media)
“I do regret waking up and seeing how it was shown on a lot of the news sources. I felt like I failed and made bike life have a bad reputation, and as a guest in a new city, that’s the opposite of my goal.”
Under current laws, it’s illegal to ride any bike, including e-bikes, on the main deck of the bridge and a cycleway is provided separately from the roadway.
“Apart from that behaviour being illegal, it was incredibly irresponsible, stupid and downright dangerous,” Assistant Commissioner David Driver said earlier this week.
Assistant Commissioner David Driver said the incident was “stupid”. (Nine)
“We don’t want to be knocking on your door and telling you your child has been killed in one of these stupid rideouts,” Driver said.
The Assistant Commissioner said that some of e-rideables had been modified to “effectively become motorbikes”, which makes them significantly more dangerous.
Police have said they have identified license plates, school uniforms and “very clear footage” which they will use to prosecute those who took part in the dangerous stunt.
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