Brisbane bike riders have held a mass gathering to protest pending state government legislation that would require a driver\u2019s licence to ride an e-bike and a 10km\/h speed limit on shared paths.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s licence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Under the reforms, riders over 16 must be medically fit to drive and hold at least a learner\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Unintended victims would also include international tourists who won\u2019t 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The political impetus for these laws is understandable, with several deaths and thousands of reported injuries after e-bike -related accidents over recent years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Bicycle Queensland\u2019s Director of Advocacy, Andrew Demack, says linking e-bike usage to a driver’s licence makes little sense.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a system designed to show you\u2019re safe to drive cars, it doesn\u2019t equip people to ride e-bikes,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Brisbane backlash<\/p>\n
Space4CyclingBNE, an active and vocal coalition of Brisbane\u2019s grassroots cycling advocacy groups, is also calling for the government to distinguish between legal pedal-assist bicycles and the high-powered e-motorbikes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The advocacy community has also flagged the wider consequences for Brisbane\u2019s long-term transport ambitions. With the Brisbane Olympic Games approaching, the licensing proposal could significantly undermine active transport planning for the Games.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Have your say<\/p>\n
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<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n