Over the past 12 months Australia Post have converted more than 300 motorbike rounds to electric bikes nationally, including 70 electric bikes in NSW.

Graeme Wilson and Dennis van der Velde are the lucky local postmen who have been riding the electric push bikes for the past three weeks.

There are many benefits in the change, with both men highlighting a big boost in fitness and energy.

“I’ve been a postie for 25 years in Sydney and in Port Macquarie and I reckon the bikes are pretty good,” Mr Wilson said.

“At the start, being unfit, I found it pretty ordinary but it gets easier and easier to ride. Port Macquarie is a great place for these bikes, with flat areas around town.

“I find it really helpful, a lot better than being on a motorbike. I have more energy when I finish as well, and my fitness has improved so much.”

The bikes are fitted with an electric motor that lasts several hours and gets charged overnight, however the rider still has to do plenty of manual peddling.

“The benefits outweigh the negatives. You think you’d be tired after riding around for five hours a day, but that’s not the case,” he said.

A postie of nine years on the Mid North Coast, Mr van der Velde said while it is different it is a positive change.

“It’s quiet, you don’t have a heavy helmet on all day and you get paid to get fit,” he said.

“I’ve seen the benefits over the last three weeks. You have to work a lot harder but it’s easier in some aspects, like turning them around, and they are easy to get on and off at businesses.”

Unfortunately they have already had some close calls with motorists.

“In general we have issues at roundabouts, because people don’t seem to follow the rules,” he said.

“Cars over run the lines and don’t give way to us, which is scary because we don’t have much protective gear, but we have to abide by road works as well.

“The message to the community would be to look out for us. Be a bit more cautious because we are vulnerable being on a push bike.

“People always seem to be in a rush and slow down just a little, then we will all be safer.”