Author: Mike Blewitt

Categories
Advocacy

Defend safe, legal e-bike use 

Bicycle Queensland has welcomed the tabling of the Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry report into e-mobility safety and use, as around 90% of the recommendations are just what we have been asking for.  

CEO Dr Matthew Burke said the report contains important steps toward clarifying what is a legal, safe e-bike is and what is an e-motorbike. This will strengthen enforcement against illegal high-powered devices, and help to embed e-mobility into transport planning.  

Inquiry recommendations
bq’s solution
action you can take
updates
The issue 

BQ has serious concerns regarding at least three recommendations from the Inquiry. These could undo most of the positives provided by the other recommendations.  

Licensing Requirement  

Bicycle Queensland strongly opposes the recommendation requiring riders to hold an Australian Driver’s Licence, or car learner’s permit (a Queensland Class C learner licence).  

“Any reforms must protect the right of Queenslanders to ride safe, legal bicycles and e-bikes without unnecessary barriers – this is not the time to make safe cycling harder or less appealing,” said Dr Burke.  

Such a requirement would have sweeping and unintended consequences across Queensland’s transport, tourism and delivery sectors.   

Queensland has whole suburbs where around 30% of households do not have anyone with a licence. That’s exactly where safe, legal e-bikes are really helpful to provide a transport solution. This proposal will take that away.   

Many seniors and people with a disability who don’t hold a licence enjoy riding bikes on the safe off-road path network. Many don’t have licences and some could never sit and pass a licence test. Their right-to-ride would be lost under this proposal.   

People who’ve lost their licence for drug or drink driving often switch to safe, legal e-bikes to get to work or to take their kids to school. Many will now have no viable way to do either.  

E-bike hire schemes, like the Lime e-bikes on the Gold Coast, could be wiped out.  

International tourists wouldn’t be able to hire an e-bike anywhere in Queensland, including during the Olympics.  

There would be further impacts Queensland’s food delivery services, much of which happens on e-bikes and e-scooters, and uses international students in their first job. This would raise prices, increase delivery times or potentially see these services end in parts of Queensland.  

Age Threshold  

While Bicycle Queensland supports introducing an age threshold for e-mobility devices, a minimum age of 16 is likely too restrictive.  

A 16 and higher limit impacts families who use legal, safe e-bikes for recreation and transport, including the journey to school.  

Teenagers were using safe, legal e-bikes for decades without much issue. It was only when the over-powered illegal e-motorbikes arrived that this became a concern. If we adopt the other Inquiry recommendations and get the illegal vehicles off the streets and pathways, and get kids onto safe, legal e-bikes, there is no reason that the age limit should not be set lower. This would keep teenagers cycling and not punish parents and guardians who would otherwise have to drive them to school.  

Young riders involved in recreational e-mountain biking have not been associated with the urban safety concerns driving the inquiry – but the outcomes would directly and adversely impact them.  E-mountain biking using safe and legal e-bikes is incredibly popular.  

NSW has just formed an expert panel to determine an appropriate age somewhere between 12 and 16. Bicycle Queensland believes an age limit somewhere between 12 and 14 is more appropriate.  

10km/h speed limits on footpaths  

Bicycle Queensland supports regulation for safety on footpaths. But a 10km/h speed limit for e-bikes on footpaths has unresolvable problems.   

For decades we’ve allowed cyclists – including legal e-bikes – to ride on footpaths without such restrictions, without much problem. When other proposed measures remove high-speed illegal e-motorbikes from the path network we should not need a 10km/h speed limit.  

It is unclear whether most of Queensland’s shared paths are actually ‘footpaths’, under existing legislation. This would be putting a 10km/h speed limit on almost every shared path, riverside and foreshore path, and long-distance rail trail in the entire state. That would kill off most legal e-bike commuting on our existing networks and criminalise e-biking on the rail trails. This is surely not what the Parliamentary Committee was thinking, but this might be the unintended outcome.   

Additionally, it can be difficult to ride any bike at 10km/h, increasing wobble, reducing rider control, and adding risk to others path users.   

Queensland’s bike routes use a mix of bikeways, shared paths and roads. Installing signage to make clear the change in arrangements and speed limits would be an unaffordable burden on councils (there are ten of thousands of shared path segments out there), for little benefit.   

BQ’s solution 

The rest of the world encourages e-mobility to reduce traffic congestion and create better communities, and so should Queensland. 

Bicycle Queensland calls to reject the recommendation for any form of licence to use legal e-bikes. Only North Korea asks riders of safe, legal, low-speed e-bikes to have a licence.  

Bicycle Queensland supports an age threshold for safe and legal e-bikes be introduced. But it should be set somewhere between 12 and 14 years of age.  

Bicycle Queensland also calls to reject the proposed 10km/h speed limit for footpaths, given the likely unintended consequences of putting this limit on most of the shared path network, including our long-distance rural rail-trails and commuter bikeways. This will kill off key tourism and recreational riding in regions, and put many commuters back into cars on crowded streets, increasing traffic congestion.  

Action you can take

If you stand with Bicycle Queensland and don’t want to see the above impacts to safe, legal e-bike use – please act now: 

  1. Write to your local State MP, to explain the positive impacts of e-mobility and how the above recommendations would limit your use of active transport and recreation. Look up your local member here online. 
  1. Write to the Minister for Transport at email: transportandmainroads@ministerial.qld.gov.au. 
  1. Join Bicycle Queensland. Help us fight for you for just $49 via a BQ Supporter membership. Or get insurance too with our full, concession or household membership packages.  
join bicycle queensland

Updates 

Categories
Advocacy

BQ’s concerns over calls for e-bike licences

Bicycle Queensland has welcomed the tabling of the Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry report into e-mobility safety and use, as around 90% of the recommendations are just what we have been asking for. 

CEO Dr Matthew Burke said the report contains important steps toward clarifying what is an e-bike and what is an e-motorbike, strengthening enforcement against illegal high-powered devices, and embedding e-mobility into transport planning. 

“This report recognises that compliant e-bikes and e-mobility devices are a legitimate and valuable part of Queensland’s transport system,” Dr Burke said. 

With clear definitions, stronger retail standards, anti-tampering laws and proper enforcement against illegal e-motorbikes we should be able to greatly reduce the numbers of dangerous high-speed vehicles from our bikepaths. 

“These devices are not e-bikes. They are unregistered electric motorbikes and should be treated as such,” Dr Burke said. 

However, BQ has serious concerns regarding three recommendations: 

Licensing Requirement 

Bicycle Queensland strongly opposes the recommendation requiring riders to hold an Australian Driver’s Licence, or car learner’s permit (a Queensland Class C learner licence). 

Dr Burke said “Any reforms must protect the right of Queenslanders to ride compliant bicycles and e-bikes without unnecessary barriers – this is not the time to make safe cycling harder or less appealing.” 

Such a requirement would have sweeping and unintended consequences across Queensland’s transport, tourism and delivery sectors.  

A licensing requirement would undermine public e-mobility schemes, including Neuron and Lime e-scooter and e-bike operations. Young people, students and international visitors use these services. We don’t want schemes like Lime’s Gold Coast e-bikes to be shut down.  

Many seniors and people with a disability who don’t hold a licence enjoy riding bikes on the safe off-road path network. Many don’t have licences and some could never sit and pass a licence test. Their right-to-ride would be lost under this proposal.  

The food delivery companies such as UberEats, DoorDash and Domino’s provide work for e-bike and e-scooter riders, many of whom are international students securing their first Australian job on arrival. That whole industry may be jeopardised by this proposal, as it creates a significant barrier to this employment.  

Queensland has whole suburbs where around 30% of households do not have anyone with a licence. That’s exactly where safe, legal e-bikes are really helpful to people. Again, this proposal will take that away.  

Bicycle Queensland is already working with a coalition of industry groups and other stakeholder to defeat this proposal. 

Age Threshold 

While Bicycle Queensland supports introducing an age threshold for e-mobility devices, a minimum age of 16 is likely too restrictive. 

The proposed threshold would dramatically impact families who use legal, compliant e-bikes for recreation and transport. Young riders involved in recreational e-mountain biking have not been associated with the urban safety concerns driving the inquiry – but the outcomes would directly and adversely impact them. 

We would prefer to switch the many thousands of high schoolers travelling on over-powered, high-speed e-motorbikes across to safe, legal e-bikes. Queensland would be much better off if those kids weren’t driven to school again. 

NSW just last month announced an expert panel to choose a minimum age somewhere between 12 and 16 years old.  

“We believe a more appropriate threshold would sit between 12 and 14 years of age,” Dr Burke said. 

10km/h speed limits on footpaths 

Bicycle Queensland supports regulation for safety on footpaths. But a 10km/h speed limit for e-bikes on footpaths has unresolvable problems.  

For decades we’ve allowed cyclists – including legal e-bikes – to ride on footpaths without such restrictions, without much problem. When other proposed measures remove high-speed illegal e-motorbikes from the path network we should not need a 10km/h speed limit. 

Most importantly, the loss of centrifugal forces at low speed makes it hard to ride any bike at 10km/h, increasing wobble, reducing rider control, and adding risk to others path users. 

Bike routes are also not like the street networks that car drivers know. Most of Queensland’s designated bike routes have sections that include footpaths. Where a shared path ends and a footpath begins is often unclear. There is usually no signage to indicate the change. Installing signage to make clear the change would be an unaffordable burden on councils, for little benefit.  

Right to Ride 

“We must not allow poorly targeted reforms to punish the majority of responsible riders,” Dr Burke said. 

“This report gets much of the framework right. Now we need to ensure the final legislative response preserves accessibility, fairness and common sense.” 

“We will work through the rest of the recommendations and provide a fuller response in the coming weeks.” 

Read the complete report

Bicycle Queensland’s submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry

Queensland’s e-bike rules

Categories
Uncategorised

E-bike licensing risks derailing active transport

Bicycle Queensland has reviewed the leaked recommendations from the Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry into e-mobility safety and use. BQ believes that the proposals to require a licence to ride an e-bike are poorly thought through and risk undermining cycling and micromobility across the state and potentially all of Australia. 

The leaked recommendations include banning children under 16 from using e-bikes and requiring riders aged 16 and over to hold at least a learner driver’s licence. 

Bicycle Queensland Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack said the proposal was a blunt policy response that fails to address the real causes of unsafe devices. 

BQ’s transport alliance requests 

Bicycle Queensland joined RACQ and Queensland Walks in calling for a targeted reform package to improve safety while protecting the benefits of cycling and micromobility. Key recommendations included: 

  • Stronger enforcement and penalties for illegal high-powered devices and dangerous behaviour 
  • Crackdowns on unsafe retailers who continued to import or sell equipment that didn’t meet the EN 15194 standard 
  • Improved data and education, including statewide reporting and public dashboards supported by education campaigns 
  • Investment in safer infrastructure, including separated cycling and micromobility lanes and higher-quality footpaths 
  • Revamped hire schemes to improve safety and reduce footpath clutter 

“If we improved these five things we’d be in a much better situation than we are now,” said BQ’s CEO Matthew Burke.  

Licensing proposal is inequitable, costly and counterproductive 

BQ believes requiring a driver’s licence to ride a legal pedal-assist e-bike would create significant barriers for people who rely on cycling for everyday transport. 

As it puts a motor vehicle framework and cost burden onto people who have deliberately chosen not to own a car, it disadvantages young people, international students, visitors, and people who can’t obtain a licence due to disability or medical conditions. And it disadvantages those who have consciously opted to avoid ownership of a car. 

The proposal would add significant administrative and enforcement workload for police while doing nothing to regulate unsafe devices at their source – which is import and sales. It just shifts responsibility onto the user. 

The influx of illegal high-powered and throttle-controlled devices followed the former Morrison Government’s 2021 decision to remove mandatory compliance with the EN15194 e-bike safety standard. 

That decision opened the floodgates to non-compliant devices entering Australia, and BQ has welcomed the recent reinstatement of EN15194 nationally. But that does need to be enforced at a national level. 

With Brisbane 2032 on a closing horizon, the licensing proposal could significantly undermine active transport planning for major events and long-term congestion and emissions goals. 

The volume of visitors to Brisbane and other host cities will rely on active transport and public transport as solutions to moving people. A requirement for licences will have a severe impact on the benefit that active transport has delivered for recent Games. Discouraging active transport is the opposite of what cities are doing around the world to fight congestion. 
 
The licencing response, without any commitment to creating a safer user environment, is motonormativity in action. 

BQ is urging the Queensland Government to reject any licensing requirement for legal pedal-assist e-bikes and focus on product regulation, retailer accountability and infrastructure investment. 

Read BQ’s submission to the inquiry.

Categories
Advocacy

Bicycle Queensland’s Fortitude Valley Precinct Submission

Bicycle Queensland recently made a submission for the Fortitude Valley Sustainable Growth Precinct Plan. The submission asks for five things:

  • A safe route to go from the hospital precinct to New Farm for riders, and from Breakfast Creek through to the city centre. Routes are on the Principle Cycle Network Plan – but nothing has been built.
  • New developments should contribute to works that will deliver the safe cycling infrastructure.
  • Better end of trip facilities in any new apartment or office complex built in the area.
  • Less parking priority to stop flooding dense inner city areas with private vehicles.
  • Get a public park built from the funds so far collected.
read the whole submission

Categories
Advocacy

Transport coalition’s asks from Parliamentary Inquiry into E-mobility Safety and Use 

Bicycle Queensland has joined RACQ and Queensland Walks in calling for urgent reforms to improve safety as new data shows a sharp rise in e-mobility-related injuries across Queensland. 

New research from the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit (QISU) shows more than 2,000 people presented to Queensland emergency departments with e-mobility injuries in 2025, a 23% increase on 2024 and a 45% increase on 2023. The data represents only around 25–30% of total emergency department presentations, meaning the true number of injuries is likely significantly higher. 

At a joint press conference RACQ Head of Public Policy Dr Michael Kane said the figures show the situation is worsening rapidly. 

“Queensland’s e-mobility crisis has reached tipping point, the upcoming report provides a clear-cut opportunity to change course,” Dr Kane said. 

“We welcome the Queensland Premier’s commitment to provide the strongest response in the nation, especially considering the rate of hospitalisations in Queensland. 

“At least 2,000 Queenslanders were admitted to hospital in 2025 due to e-mobility injuries, but as emphasised during the inquiry last year, these figures represent real individuals whose lives have been upended.” 

Bicycle Queensland, along with RACQ and Queensland Walks, is urging the Parliamentary Committee to recommend strong and immediate measures to improve safety. 

“The things we are asking for cover enforcement, retailers, education, hire schemes and of course infrastructure,” said BQ CEO Prof. Matthew Burke. “If we improved these five things we’d be in a much better situation than we are now.” 

Key reforms called for by Bicycle Queensland and partners 
  • Stronger enforcement to stop illegal devices and unsafe behaviour, resourcing for expanded enforcement powers, and penalties for illegal high-powered devices. 
  • Crackdown on unsafe retailers, restricting sales of e-mopeds and e-motorbikes to licensed dealers and tightening import standards. 
  • Improved data and education, including statewide reporting and public dashboards supported by education campaigns. 
  • Investment in safer infrastructure, including higher-quality footpaths and separated cycling and micromobility lanes. 
  • Revamped hire schemes to improve safety and reduce footpath clutter. 
Categories
Advocacy Bikeway detours and closures

Temporary Herschel Street bikeway detour  

Bike riders travelling through Brisbane’s CBD will see a temporary detour on the Herschel Street crossing to Roma Street from Wednesday 11 February 2026, as part of ongoing works for the Cross River Rail project. 

The shared path between George Street and Roma Street will close for up to eight weeks to allow construction of an improved walking and riding environment. While the detour will require adjustments to your regular route, the outcome will deliver better safety and connectivity for riders. 

You have a few options during the closure, however the George Street bike lane provides a clear and safe alternative south of the closure, and the signalised crossing at Makerston Street will assist people walking or riding through the area. If you must use the Roma Street footpaths, please be considerate of pedestrians. There will be traffic control and signage in place to assist riders, pedestrians and motorists.  

Allow another minute or two on your trip, and take extra care on the detour you choose – including being mindful as pedestrians negotiate the same changes in their route. 

BQ has long advocated for safer, more intuitive and higher-quality cycling infrastructure through the Brisbane CBD, particularly on key east–west links like Herschel Street. Unfortunately, a safe riding thoroughfare along the full length of Herschel Street will not be developed within this particular project. 

Once construction is complete, a new shared link between George and Roma streets will open, with excellent connections to Roma Street station.  

BQ will continue to keep members informed as works progress and encourages riders to report any issues encountered during the detour so they can be raised with the project team. More details can be found on the project website.

Categories
Advocacy

Logan Faster Rail: Reinstate the Active Transport Corridor 

The Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project was meant to deliver a continuous Active Transport Corridor alongside the rail line — a safe cycling route connecting communities from Kuraby to Beenleigh. But two key sections of bikeway have now been removed from the project design, without public consultation. Bicycle Queensland is calling for the corridor to be reinstated in full — and we need your help. 

BQ’s solution
updates from bq
action you can take
The issue 

Long, safe bikeways are rare in South East Queensland — which is why the Logan Faster Rail Active Transport Corridor mattered so much. This project was meant to deliver a continuous cycling corridor from Kuraby to Beenleigh, around three times longer than Ipswich Road in Brisbane, creating a safe, direct route that would serve: 

  • everyday riders commuting to stations 
  • local school students riding safely to and from school 
  • regional cycle tourism 

The Queensland Government, acting through the Department of Transport and Main Roads rail branch, has deleted two key sections of the bikeway: 

  • Between Woodridge and Kingston Stations 
  • From Compton Road to Kuraby Station 

The Queensland Government project team did not consult with or advise the public about this major change. 

BQ is not sure that the Commonwealth Government was properly advised of the change in project scope to delete the bikeways. The Commonwealth is paying half the bill for the overall works and may not be impressed. 

BQ’s solution 

Bicycle Queensland is calling for the full reinstatement of the Logan Faster Rail Active Transport Corridor, delivering the safe, continuous route that was originally promised. 

First priority: Woodridge to Kingston 

Our highest priority is reinstating the Woodridge to Kingston section. This would restore most of the continuous bikeway and directly support safe access for thousands of students. 

This section serves schools with a combined population of approximately 4,000 students, including: 

  • Kingston State School 
  • Groves Christian College 
  • Kingston State College 
  • The Y School 
  • Loganlea State High School (directly on the corridor south of Kingston Station) 
Action you can take 

If you want a safe cycling route from Brisbane to the Gold Coast — or you live near Woodridge, Kingston, Loganlea or Kuraby — please act now. 

1) Email the project team 

Let the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project team know you want the Active Transport Corridor reinstated: 

logangoldcoastrail@tmr.qld.gov.au 

2) Contact your local State MP 

Ask your State MP to raise the issue directly and support reinstatement of the corridor: 

  • Melissa McMahon MP (Macalister) — macalister@parliament.qld.gov.au 
  • James Martin MP (Stretton) — stretton@parliament.qld.gov.au 
  • Hon Cameron Dick MP (Woodridge) — woodridge@parliament.qld.gov.au 
  • Hon Shannon Fentiman MP (Waterford) — waterford@parliament.qld.gov.au 

3) Contact your local Federal MP 

The Commonwealth is also part-funding this project. Ask your Federal MP to push for reinstatement of the corridor: 

  • Hon Julie-Ann Campbell MP (Moreton) — Julie-Ann.Campbell.MP@aph.gov.au 
  • Hon Rowan Holzberger MP (Forde) — Rowan.Holzberger.MP@aph.gov.au 
  • Hon Jim Chalmers MP (Rankin) — jim.chalmers.mp@aph.gov.au 

4) Mobilise school communities 

If you have children or grandchildren at: 

  • Kingston State School 
  • Groves Christian College 
  • Kingston State College 
  • Loganlea State High School 
  • Y School 

Contact the school’s P&C Association and ask them to advocate strongly for the bikeway to be reinstated. 

5) Join either the Logan Bicycle User Group (Logan BUG) or Bicycle Queensland 

The Logan BUG are local cyclists who work hard to make cycling conditions better in the area. Bicycle Queensland is the peak advocacy group for cycling in Queensland. Your membership helps support the advocacy work of Bicycle Queensland, including on campaigns like this.  

Join bicycle queensland
Updates
  • BQ were first briefed approximately six weeks after first asking for information. 
  • There has still been no public consultation on the removal. 
  • The project is expected to soon move from design to construction — once construction starts, reinstating the corridor becomes significantly harder. 
  • BQ met with Minister Mickelberg on January 19 and were told he wasn’t going to reinstate these links.  
  • We have now written to all local and state Members of Parliament that surround the corridor. BQ has been advised that they are making inquiries and that discussions are underway.  
Categories
Advocacy

Brisbane Riverwalk reopens at Eagle Street after major upgrade 

Bicycle Queensland welcomes the reopening of a key section of the Riverwalk at the  Waterfront Brisbane project, after more than two years of construction works. 

The upgraded Riverwalk section will reopen by midday on Tuesday 3 February, after being closed for approximately 30 months to enable construction works by Dexus. 

This section of the Riverwalk had long been a challenging pinch point for people walking and riding, with narrow widths, poor sight lines and tight corners creating conflict and safety concerns for all users. 

BQ was invited by Dexus to preview the new Riverwalk section ahead of its reopening. 

The shared path now features a generous 6m-wide corridor with smooth concrete surfacing, improved sight lines and safer corners. Shallow cobblestones have also been used to visually indicate areas where users can expect higher foot traffic, supporting safer behaviour and awareness along the shared route. 

Riverwalk will also connect directly to end-of-trip facilities for the Waterfront Brisbane currently under construction, supporting more people to choose walking and riding as part of their commute when the towers open. 

BQ CEO Matt Burke praised the upgrade and the project’s delivery timeline. 

“While construction has taken over two years, the Riverwalk is re-opening on time and it looks like the finished product is pretty darn good. Well done to the developers to creating and sticking to that vision.” 

Bicycle Queensland will continue advocating for high-quality, safe and connected active transport infrastructure across Brisbane and Queensland, ensuring that shared paths and commuter corridors work well for everyone.