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NSW authorities have levied a penalty against an US-based online influencer and handed out two traffic infringement notices for alleged negligent driving after a large group of e-bike riders converged on the famous Sydney landmark during the busy commute on Tuesday.

The Event: A Prohibited Ride

A gathering of around 40 individuals operating e-bikes and motorcycles travelled along the bridge’s main deck, where cycling is prohibited. 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 the following day.

Police indicated they did not immediately pursue the riders out of safety concerns but instead located the assembly at a scenic Sydney lookout near the Botanic Gardens, where they dispersed.

Fines Imposed for Influencer

Later in the week, authorities stated they had served the American online personality known as Sur Ronster, 26, with two traffic infringement notices for careless operation (not involving death or prior injury), with a fine of $562 and penalty points per notice, in relation to the bridge ride-out. Officials noted that inquiries were continuing.

The influencer is said to have over 3.4 million subscribers on one platform and more than 1.2m on Instagram.

Influencer's Comments

The online figure gave comments to a major newspaper recently following the event gained traction on digital platforms, saying he regretted giving "the biking community" a negative image.

"I’ll probably take responsibility. It was among the safest gatherings I have witnessed," he told the publication. "I am a visitor here, so I’m going to come here respecting the laws and norms of the city. So when I decided to do a meet and greet it was not meant to include a group ride, it was just to greet people near the bridge."

"I did not know the area well, it was my fault we ended up on the bridge and I had a decision to make: whether the group completes the entirety of the bridge and comes back, which is a crime. Or we reverse, essentially, before entering the bridge. I chose at the time to go back."

Broader Context on E-Bike Regulation

The increase of e-bikes on roads nationwide has sparked growing calls for regulation. The federal health minister, Mark Butler, commented that non-compliant electric bikes were a "total menace on the road."

"Young people have engaged in reckless acts on bikes ever since the early bicycle [but] the injuries that are presenting at our hospital emergency departments are truly severe," the minister said. "We must make sure we prevent these things entering the country [and] police are given the authority to crack down, to confiscate them, to crush them, to destroy them."

The state recorded 226 injuries related to electric bikes in 2024. But, in the initial half of 2025, that figure surged to 233 injuries plus four fatalities.