Author: Mike Blewitt

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Advocacy

Bicycle Queensland’s September 2025 Regional Tour dates

Bicycle Queensland is pleased to announce a comprehensive regional tour through Northern and Southern Queensland, scheduled for September 2025. The tour will be led by Bicycle Queensland’s Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack, and aims to engage with local Bicycle Queensland members, bike riders, the bike industry, tourism bodies, schools, universities and regional councils across Queensland. It is your chance to come along, have your say and help shape the future of bike and scooter riding in Queensland.

The Regional Forum Tour underscores Bicycle Queensland’s commitment to advocating for bike and e-scooter riding as a vital component of community health, sustainable transport, and tourism opportunities for the state of Queensland. Throughout the tour, Andrew Demack will meet with stakeholders to discuss the benefits of bike and e-scooter riding, effective transport planning, opportunities for recreation and the significant impact of riding on local economies and community well-being.

Andrew Demack already visited communities between Cairns and Townsville earlier in 2025, including attendance at the Queensland Mountain Bike Forum – his findings are already published.

Regional Tour dates and locations

DateTimeCityLocationMeeting RSVP
15/9/20254:30pmMackayMackay Meeting Room, Jubilee Community Centre, 258 Alfred St MackayRSVP Here
16/9/202512 noonYeppoonYeppoon Community Centre, 80 John StRSVP Here
16/9/20255:30pmRockhampton
Gold Room, 62 Victoria Parade		RSVP Here
17/9/202512 noonGladstoneGladstone City Library meeting room, 39 Goondoon StreetRSVP Here
17/9/20256pmBundabergBundaberg School of Arts, 184 Bourbong StRSVP Here
18/9/202512:30pmHervey BayPialba Memorial Hall, 1 Main St PialbaRSVP Here
19/9/202512 noonGympieThe Pavilion, 77 Exhibition Rd, Southside GympieRSVP Here
22/9/256pmIpswichTBCRSVP Here
23/9/2512 noonWarwickWarwick Art GalleryRSVP Here
23/9/256pmToowoombaToowoomba City LibraryRSVP Here
24/9/256pmSunshine Coast and NoosaCommunity Co-Lab, MaroochydoreRSVP Here
25/9/2512 noonMoreton BayRedcliffe Volunteer HubRSVP Here
25/9/256pmRedlandsVictoria Point Community HallRSVP Here
3/10/255:30pmGold CoastBroadbeach Community CentreRSVP Here

(More towns, dates and locations are being finalised – email media@BQ.org.au for details)

Andrew Demack expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming tour, given it is a chance to connect directly with BQ Members, the broader riding community and decision and policy makers around the state.

“Bike and e-scooter riding play a crucial role in enhancing the liveability of our communities, promoting active lifestyles, reducing traffic congestion and even delivering clear economic benefits. We look forward to discussing these important issues and advocating for better infrastructure and policies throughout Queensland’s regions.”

BQ encourages you to attend a forum near you, to connect with BQ, share your local experiences and challenges and contribute to shaping advocact for better bike and scooter infrastructure and policies.

Bicycle Queensland would like to thank the Queensland government for their support in undertaking this essential regional advocacy work, so we can understand the trends and challenges facing bike riding and micromobility. Bicycle Queensland aims to work with the Department of Transport and Main Road to communicate the investment opportunities around infrastructure and actions to best serve BQ members, stakeholders and communities.

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Partner News

Bicycle Queensland members save with BikesOnline

Bicycle Queensland are happy to announce that BQ Members can now save at BikesOnline, one of Australia’s online retailers.

BQ Members receive a 10% discount on purchases between $300 and $5000. This is a great offer for BQ Members around Queensland or Australia! The code for the offer is in the Portal – log in to access it along with nearly 30 other great discounts for BQ Members.

If you’re not already a member, you can sign up to Bicycle Queensland to receive all the listed discounts on the Member Rewards page, alongside public liability and accident insurance, free legal advice and further discounts for BQ Events and at partner BQ Link stores.

join bicycle queensland

Terms and conditions:

– The discount code entitles all Bicycle Queensland members to a discount of 10% off any purchase between $300 and $5,000 at BikesOnline.com.au.
– Discount excludes gift vouchers and items on sale.
– This offer is not redeemable for cash and cannot be used in conjunction with other vouchers.
– To redeem this voucher, simply visit BikesOnline.com.au, add the items to your cart and apply this code on the checkout page.
– This voucher code is valid till 30 June 2026.
– Please see the terms and conditions on the BikesOnline.com.au website for further details regarding delivery costs and availability.
– Discount cannot be applied retrospectively.
– The terms of this offer may be updated at the discretion of BikesOnline.com.

Categories
Advocacy

BQ attends inaugural LGAQ Active Transport Forum

Bicycle Queensland interim CEO Liana Heath and Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack attended the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) first-ever Active Transport Forum on Friday 15 August.

This is a great initiative by LGAQ because it gives an opportunity for larger Councils with more resources and more staff to share their innovations and resources with smaller Councils. This inaugural forum had presentations from TMR experts on safe bicycle infrastructure design, and from Councils on projects including safe street environments around schools and connecting sections of bikeway. Bicycle Queensland’s presentation looked at the feedback we received from holding forums for bike riders across every major centre in the state.

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Bikeway detours and closures

Upcoming shared path use in Brisbane for September

This September 3-4 Tour de Cure will be running their annual Can4Cancer and Stride for a Cure fundraising walks. The routes for each day are identical, with participants choosing to undertake a 21km or 10km course, both of which start and finish at The Officers Mess in New Farm. Tour de Cure is a not-for-profit organisation which runs quality events to raise vital funds for cancer research, support and prevention projects. Since 2007, Tour de Cure has raised $130+ million to support cancer projects, which has resulted in 193 cancer research breakthroughs.

To make the charity events possible, Tour de Cure have received a consent to occupy City Reach Boardwalk (Brisbane City), New Farm Riverwalk (from Eastern end of Howard Smith Wharves section to New Farm Park, New Farm), Kangaroo Point Bikeway (from Rotherham Street to Dockside Ferry Terminal, Kangaroo Point) and Mowbray Park Internal Shared Pathways (East Brisbane ) from 8:30am to 2:00pm on both days, via Brisbane City Council Transport Planning and Operations. 

The 21km participants will arrive at Officers Mess at approximately 8.00am and have a staggered departure from 8.30am, while the 10km participants will arrive at Officers Mess at approximately 10.00am and have a staggered departure from 10.30am. 

The events are expected to have 200 participants and 100 participants respectively on Wednesday 3 September, with 120/150 for Thursday 4 September bvetween the 21/10km walks.

The 21km route will head towards Brisbane City before crossing the Kulripa Bridge to Southbank.  They will then continue along the foreshore through Kangaroo Point and will then catch a ferry from Hawthorne Ferry Terminal to Teneriffe where they will return along the riverside to New Farm.

The 10km route will head towards the city via Howard Smith Wharves, crossing the river using the Kangaroo Point Bridge. They will then continue along the foreshore towards Hawthorne, where they will catch a ferry to New Farm.

Due to the staggered departure and the differing walking paces of the participants, the field of walkers will be quite spread out.

Links to the routes are below:

21km Route

10km Route

Participants will adhere to normal pedestrian rules, walking on pathways, crossing at lights where applicable.  There will be no infrastructure set up along the course – just a slightly higher volume of foot traffic.

Of course, Tour de Cure always need bike volunteers – head to their website for details.

Categories
Advocacy

Tragedy in WA underscores need for urgent action on illegal high-powered e-bikes 

Bicycle Queensland extends our sympathies to the family and community of the woman tragically killed over the weekend in Edgewater, Perth. She died after being struck by a high-powered, unregistered electric motorbike, which Police say was being ridden recklessly by a 17-year-old who has since been charged with manslaughter.  

This devastating incident is a stark reminder that the widespread availability and misuse of illegal e-mobility devices pose serious risks not only to those who ride them, but to every user of shared paths, roads and other public spaces. 

While the incident occurred in Western Australia, the same types of devices are easily purchased in-store and online in Queensland, despite being illegal to use on public roads and paths. 

“The e-motorcycle device actually does have a place legally – on purpose-built motocross tracks such as QLD Moto Park near Boonah,” said Andrew Demack, Director of Advocacy at Bicycle Queensland. “But using these devices on paths and roads in our suburbs and cities is just as dangerous and illegal as young people hooning on petrol-powered motorbikes – except maybe more dangerous because they are much quieter.” 

These devices – often incorrectly marketed as e-bikes – can travel up to 60 km/h and beyond purely under throttle assistance from the motors that can have 5000W of power or more. The e-motorbikes are not even equipped with pedals, and far exceed Australia’s legal limit of 250W continuous power and 25 km/h of pedal-assisted speed. That makes them, by law, unregistrable electric motorbikes – yet they are still widely available online and in some retail stores. 

Queesland’s e-bike rules

Many are purchased by teenagers and less experienced riders, with little awareness of the legal or safety risks. Public frustration is rising, with increasing reports of these high-powered devices being used recklessly on bikeways, footpaths, and walking trails and mountain bike trails across Queensland – and Australia. 

Bicycle Queensland supports e-mobility as part of a healthy, sustainable transport future. But safety and legal clarity must come first – as outlined in our position statement and presentation to the Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry on e-mobility. 

We call on the Queensland Government to: 

  • Enforce existing laws around illegal e-bikes and PMDs with immediate effect 
  • Ban the sale of non-compliant devices that exceed speed and power limits 
  • Support public education to help people understand what’s legal and safe 
  • Empower police and transport officers to test and remove illegal vehicles 
  • Encourage speed-governing measures on existing devices where possible 

Queensland has an opportunity right now to address this issue to prevent future harm. The current mix of unclear rules, unregulated sales, and growing use of high-powered devices is a recipe for exactly the kind of fatal incident we saw in Perth. Not if, but when. 

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Advocacy Press releases

Bicycle Queensland’s response to the Parliamentary Inquiry on e-mobility

BQ at the Parliamentary Inquiry in July 2025

On July 22, Bicycle Queensland joined Queensland Walks in presenting to the Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry into E-Mobility, alongside representatives from RACQ, QFES, QUT’s Centre for Future Mobility, Dr Richard Buning from UQ, Lime, Neuron and Foucoult Dynamics.

The session highlighted both the promise and the pressure of the e-mobility boom, especially in urban areas. Key concerns from those who presented ranged from the safety of privately imported and modified devices, to rider education, infrastructure gaps, and the need for clear and enforceable regulations.

BQ’s submission called for:

  • Increased investment in active transport, especially separated infrastructure
  • Mode share targets to guide planning and transport policy – aiming for 10% of trips via active transport (walking or riding)
  • Investment in infrastructure to match the mode share goals – lifting from the current funding of under 1% of total transport funding
  • A stronger focus on the desirability and safety of walking and cycling, especially as urban congestion grows
  • A reduction of speed limits on local streets to 40km/h to protect vulnerable road users
  • Match import and sales regulations for e-mobility devices to the legislated standards, and run a professional public education campaign to support that

BQ’s Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack pointed out that the need for separated infrastructure for all riders was essential. But clarification is required around what a shared path is, and what a bike path is. Currently the differences and therefore the e-mobility speed limits for the different paths, is not signed. This has lead to confusion for many users.

Queensland Walks was clear on their message, that the rise in e-mobility must not come at the cost of walking and riding. “Footpaths are for walking,” Queensland Walks President Greg Vann reminded the inquiry, urging dedicated infrastructure for all micro-mobility users to avoid conflict and confusion.

Other presenters shared concerns about non-compliant devices, particularly e-scooters capable of exceeding 25km/h, which RACQ identified as unregistered mopeds. Both RACQ and QFES supported crackdowns on illegal imports especially around unregistered e-motor bikes that are frequently sold as e-bikes. They have called for stronger battery safety standards, and emphasised the need to educate both riders and parents about what the rules are.

Commercial hire operators Lime and Neuron along with manufacturer Foucoult Dynamics presented their safety records and called for better infrastructure and clearer parking policies, while academic experts from QUT and UQ reinforced that improved infrastructure – not stricter rules – has the biggest impact on compliance and safety.

BQ Interim CEO Liana Heath reminded the inquiry that active transport delivers connectivity, access, equity, and health benefits across the community – values at the heart of the Brisbane 2032 legacy that the Queensland Government is committed on delivering.

Where to from here?

The inquiry is ongoing, with more presentations being made on both the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Bicycle Queensland believes that there is already a need for immediate action from the Queensland State Government in three key areas:

Infrastructure: the lack of specific infrastructure for bikes and e-scooters was a common theme, with all presenters highlighting that the lack of purpose-made infrastructure was one of the leading issues for injuries. Additionally, forcing e-mobility devices and bikes onto footpaths has reduced confidence in walking – which is the main mode of transport for everyone. Proper investment in separated paths is an immediate requirement, with transport funding to match a mode shift goal.

Illegal imports: BQ and RACQ pointed out, many of the e-devices (both illegal e-bikes and some privately owned scooters) are illegal, unregistered motor vehicles. Their import and sale in Queensland must be blocked. This is an action that Fair Trading can take for Queensland with immediate effect, drastically reducing the sale and use of illegal vehicles that are headlining negative press on the e-mobility movement and creating over-representation in hospital admissions.

Education and enforcement: Queensland has some very thorough rules in place around e-mobility use including who can use what devices and where, and limits for assistance from the electric motors. Beyond illegal imports, education needs immediate action. The Queensland Government need to invest in a thorough, professional public education campaign to inform riders and parents about the limits on devices and their use. And then they need to enforce it.

BQ Chair, Rachel Nolan urged caution regarding over regulation, emphasising the need to focus on enforcing current laws and public education, before crackdowns, “We caution the Government to use current levers and education before mandating new rules. We want to promote riding and e-mobility, not introduce further obstacles or complexity”.

As Queensland’s voice for bike and scooter riders, BQ will continue to advocate for safe streets, smarter policy, and sustainable solutions that support both existing riders and the growing diversity of people using e-mobility to move around.

Categories
Advocacy

Bicycle Queensland calls for smarter e-mobility policies in Queensland

Bicycle Queensland (BQ), the state’s peak body for bicycle and scooter riders, has welcomed the Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry into E-mobility and called on the State Government to urgently elevate active transport to a serious and properly funded part of the state’s transport network.

Speaking at the Inquiry today, BQ Chair Rachel Nolan said the organisation, which represents more than 12,000 members across Queensland, is advocating for bold action to ensure e-mobility is safe, sustainable, and properly integrated into the broader transport system.

“Bicycle Queensland is about making active transport – not just cars – a serious, legitimate part of how Queenslanders move,” said Ms Nolan. “If our transport network supported more people to walk, ride or scoot, our cities would be greener, healthier, and far more affordable.”

BQ has made a detailed submission to the Inquiry, including a Position Statement on high-powered e-bikes, and is calling for a three-point plan:

  1. Make active and e-mobility transport a mainstream part of the network
    “The Department of Transport and Main Roads estimates that every dollar spent on active transport returns five dollars in health and productivity benefits,” said Interim CEO Liana Heath. “Yet, active transport funding is less than 1% of the total transport budget of $37.4 billion over four years”.
  2. Tougher rules on illegal high-powered e-bikes
    BQ is calling for import and point-of-sale restrictions on e-bikes that don’t meet legislated standards, as well as retroactive speed-limiting of existing vehicles that don’t comply with Queensland standards.
  3. A state-wide public education campaign
    Interim CEO Liana Heath added, “We support smart, staged interventions and education first, better enforcement second, and not blanket restrictions that hurt the broader goal of getting people out of cars and into more sustainable transport options.”

BQ emphasised that over-regulation could backfire, discouraging people from choosing safe, low-emission alternatives and pushing them back into cars.

With over four decades of advocacy and community engagement, Bicycle Queensland remains committed to safer streets, healthier cities, and a more balanced transport future.

Bicycle Queensland’s Position Statements on High powered E-bikes can be located on the Bicycle Queensland website: Bicycle Queensland calls for action on high-powered e-bikes – Bicycle Queensland.

Categories
Advocacy

BQ Advocacy Update July 18, 2025

The past few months have been a hive of activity in the BQ office. The big news earlier this year was that the Queensland Government were holding a Parliamentary Inquiry into e-mobility. BQ has made their submission, and will be presenting to the inquiry on July 21.

We’ve also wrapped up our Y2W (Yarraman to Wulkuraka) 3-day rail trail event. This was held on the popular Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, and it presented a great opportunity to speak to members and riders about important advocacy work in their areas. That included speaking to riers who have been volunteering their time for the Story Bridge Bike Bus, as we await further information from Brisbane City Council as to when and how the bridge will serve as an essential transport link for all users.

All that and more, via this update from Andrew.

If you want to know more about what BQ is up to and where, please contact us on BQinfo@BQ.org.au – or call the office on 07 3844 1144 between 8:30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.