🔗 Share this article

NSW authorities have issued a fine against an US-based online influencer and served two traffic infringement notices for reported negligent driving after a large group of e-bike riders gathered on the famous Sydney landmark during the busy commute on a weekday.

The Incident: An Illegal Gathering

A group of approximately 40 individuals operating e-bikes and motorcycles proceeded along the bridge’s main deck, an area where bicycle riding is banned. The assembly subsequently reversed direction and rode through the city’s CBD and Haymarket.

"There was potential for serious injury or fatalities," stated a senior police official David Driver on Wednesday.

Law enforcement indicated they did not chase right away the riders out of safety concerns but rather found the group at a scenic Sydney lookout near the Botanic Gardens, where they dispersed.

Penalties Issued for Influencer

Later in the week, authorities stated they had served the US social media influencer who goes by Sur Ronster, 26, with two violation tickets for negligent driving (with no death or previous bodily harm), carrying a penalty of $562 and penalty points per notice, connected to the bridge incident. Officials noted that the investigation is ongoing.

The influencer reportedly has over 3.4m subscribers on YouTube and over 1.2 million on the social media app.

Creator's Response

The content creator spoke with a local publication recently after the incident gained traction on news sites and social media, stating he regretted giving "bike life" a negative image.

"I’ll probably take responsibility. That was among the safest gatherings I’ve ever seen," he told the publication. "I am a visitor here, so I’m going to come here respecting the laws and norms of the city. When I decided to do a meet and greet it was not meant to include a group ride, it was just to say hi under the bridge."

"I did not know the area well, it was my fault we ended up on the bridge and I had two choices: either the group completes the entirety of the bridge and turns around, an illegal act. Or we turn around, basically, before entering the bridge. I chose at the time to turn around."

Broader Context on Electric Bike Rules

The increase of electric bicycles on roads nationwide has sparked growing calls for regulation. A senior government official, the minister, recently said that non-compliant electric bikes were a "complete hazard on the road."

"Young people have engaged in reckless acts on bikes since the invention of the early bicycle [but] the harm that are coming into our hospital emergency departments are truly severe," he stated. "We’ve got to make sure we stop these things entering the country [and] police are granted the powers to take strong action, to take them away, to crush them, to destroy them."

NSW reported 226 injuries related to electric bikes in 2024. However, in the initial half of 2025, that number surged to 233 injuries plus four fatalities.