Paula Sharam, 70, has not driven on Bribie Island since she got an ebike last year. She already complies with the new 12km/h speed limit near pedestrians. For her, the ebike has been life-changing, allowing her to pick up grandchildren, carry groceries, and commute to her fashion shop. She only uses her SUV for trips to Brisbane, about 65km south.
Sharam's nightmare about a stolen ebike came just before the Queensland government passed what it called a nation-leading crackdown on dangerous e-scooter and ebike behaviours. Fortunately, her bike was not stolen, and she meets all new requirements: a driving licence, a maximum unassisted speed of 25km/h, and compliance with European safety standards.
At 70, Sharam is above the 12-17 age bracket requiring parental supervision. She says she already avoids pedestrians by staying off footpaths. But she worries that added regulation and demonisation of ebikes will discourage others from enjoying their benefits.
Divisions Over E-Mobility
The Australian Medical Association's Queensland branch criticised the government for backpedalling on a proposed ban for under-16s, calling it a betrayal of children's safety. More than 1,200 submissions to the inquiry revealed deep divisions. Pedestrians and push-bike riders reported life-altering injuries from e-mobility devices, while advocates like Engineers Australia see a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform urban transport.
Queensland University of Technology's Dr Mark Limb fears the new laws are the most hostile for ebike usage anywhere in the world, citing a licensing scheme for bicycles. He argues that e-mobility was meant to answer the region's transport challenges, including hills, heat, and humidity, and could showcase Queensland's lifestyle during the 2032 Olympics. He worries about visitors stuck in traffic or fined for using hire scooters without a licence.
Conflicting Experiences
Sophia Tyrrell, from Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, says her children are too afraid to ride their push-bikes to school after an ebike knocked her daughter River off. She sees many illegal modifications and dangerous riding near a high school. Tyrrell now drives her children to school, a 20-minute trip in peak traffic. She recounts clients injured by ebikes, including a 67-year-old woman needing shoulder reconstruction after being struck by two boys on an ebike.
Tyrrell supports the new laws but doubts police can enforce them. She wants e-mobility devices moved off footpaths and onto roads, as she considers them silent motorbikes. Limb disputes this, saying most ebikes are like push-bikes, but agrees that throttle-powered devices are similar to motorbikes and were already illegal.
Both Sharam and Tyrrell agree that better infrastructure, such as expanded footpaths and bike lanes, is needed. Sharam believes e-mobility can reduce cars, emissions, and power consumption, and make people happier. Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg says the laws strike the right balance between safety and responsible riding, based on extensive consultation.
