Brisbane bike riders have held a mass gathering to protest pending state government legislation that would require a driver’s licence to ride an e-bike and a 10km/h speed limit on shared paths.
Cyclists are furious and the state government is facing a major backlash, with the deadline for feedback and submissions closing at 10 am on Friday, 10th April.
Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg recently confirmed that to legally ride a standard pedal-assist e-bike, you must be medically fit to hold a driver’s licence.
Under the reforms, riders over 16 must be medically fit to drive and hold at least a learner’s licence. Queensland Police will be granted more powers to randomly breath-test riders and to seize and destroy illegally used devices. Parents will be held liable if they allow underage children to ride, while retailers and shared-scheme operators face fines if they enable unlawful use.
Staggeringly, a 10km/h speed limit will also apply to shared footpaths, including iconic and popular tourism destinations such as the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the laws are expected to take effect from 1 July, with a six-month transition period. The cost of a three-year learner’s licence in Queensland is $77.55.
The Minister has acknowledged the law will disadvantage people who currently use e-bikes and are unable to drive, such as the aging, those with medical conditions or people with disabilities.
Unintended victims would also include international tourists who won’t be able to hire an e-bike anywhere in Queensland, even during the 2032 Olympics. And food delivery services, many of which operate on e-bikes and e-scooters and rely heavily on international students in entry-level jobs, could be significantly curtailed.
The political impetus for these laws is understandable, with several deaths and thousands of reported injuries after e-bike -related accidents over recent years.
High-powered, throttle-only e-motorbikes, many of which are grey-market imports capable of exceeding 25km/h, have been causing harm. But many of these devices are already illegal in Queensland and other states.
Bicycle Queensland’s Director of Advocacy, Andrew Demack, says linking e-bike usage to a driver’s licence makes little sense.
“That’s a system designed to show you’re safe to drive cars, it doesn’t equip people to ride e-bikes,” he said.
Demack argues that a far better outcome would be to ensure that all bikes available for sale comply with the recognised standard, rather than requiring a licence to ride what is essentially a bicycle.
Brisbane backlash
Space4CyclingBNE, an active and vocal coalition of Brisbane’s grassroots cycling advocacy groups, is also calling for the government to distinguish between legal pedal-assist bicycles and the high-powered e-motorbikes.
The advocacy community has also flagged the wider consequences for Brisbane’s long-term transport ambitions. With the Brisbane Olympic Games approaching, the licensing proposal could significantly undermine active transport planning for the Games.
The proposed changes would affect around 7.5% of Queenslanders aged over 16, as well as the hundreds of thousands of national and international travellers who visit the state each year.
Have your say
Feedback and public submissions close at 10 am on Friday, April 10. Have your say by contacting the Parliamentary Committee directly via SDIWC@parliament.qld.gov.au
You can also object via writing to your state MP, with all members listed on this page https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Members/Current-Members/Member-List