Category: Advocacy

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Advocacy

Bicycle Queensland calls for action on high-powered e-bikes

Bicycle Queensland (BQ) has released a new position statement calling for stronger regulation of high-powered e-bikes, which do not comply with Australian standards and pose significant safety risks on shared pathways and roads around Queensland and Australia.

Read all of Bicycle Queensland’s position statements

The rapid rise of these illegal devices—capable of speeds up to 60km/h and beyond purely via throttle—has sparked public concern across the state, with residents and authorities alarmed by their presence in shared-use environments. By law, e-bikes must stick to the EN19154 standard, which mandates a 250W maximum for continuous power, along with pedal assist limited to a maximum of 25km/h, amongst other inclusions. Brush up on Queensland’s e-bike regulations.

BQ CEO Alton Twine emphasised the urgency of addressing this issue:

“Safety must come first. High-powered e-bikes that exceed legal limits create unnecessary risks for both riders and the wider community. We need clear regulations and enforcement to ensure that only safe, compliant devices are on our streets and pathways.”

BQ is calling for restrictions on the import and sale of non-compliant e-bikes, better public education on legal e-bike use, and greater enforcement measures to curb the misuse of high-powered devices which are only legal to be used on private property.

Everything you need to know about e-bikes

At the same time, BQ remains a strong advocate for legal pedal-assist e-bikes, which meet the Australian standard and offer a sustainable transport alternative. Advocacy Director Andrew Demack highlighted their benefits:

“Pedal-assist e-bikes are an incredible transport solution. They help more people ride further, reduce congestion, and improve public health. We must ensure that the future of e-mobility is built on safe and legal technology. The rapid uptake by Queenslanders of the e-bike and e-scooter rebates in late 2024 show just how popular legal e-bikes and e-scooters are.”

Bicycle Queensland will continue working with government, industry, and community stakeholders to push for reforms that promote safe and sustainable transport choices.

You can read our complete position statement here.

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Advocacy

North Brisbane Bikeway – Stage 5 announcement and reactions

Earlier in February it was revealed that Brisbane City Council had decided on the final route for Stage 5 of the North Brisbane Bikeway. This is an important link connecting the CBD with Brisbane’s northern suburbs. The consultation process has taken many years, and Bicycle Queensland has been involved throughout the consultation, along with the Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) in the area.

Read the news from Brisbane City Council

A concept design was released in 2021, connecting Kedron Brook bikeway via Dickson and Jackson streets.

‘Bicycle Queensland and the Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) have always been keen for the route to continue along Dickson Street and cross through Eagle Junction before going down Jackson Street to Kedron Brook bike way,’ explained Andrew Demack, BQ’s Director of Advocacy. The Community Working Group and local councillor, Cr Julia Dixon, did raise concerns about the Price Street to Kedron Brook route. There were also two petitions from the community, opposing a safe and direct active transport link on the proposed route. The Kent road concept from 2018 has been chosen as the preferred option.

‘The new plan that has been announced goes via Price Street, Kent Street, Park Road and on to Brooke Road,’ said Andrew Demack once the news was announced. ‘So it zig-zags towards Kedron Brook bikeway. It’s really good because it goes past a school, so this link enables more kids to ride to school. It is not as direct as the original alignment that BQ and the Bicycle User Groups have been calling for. We really think that the direct alignment is the most useful transport alignment.’

As it stands, Dickson street is a direct connection – but not suitable for all users as it stands.

‘A very confident rider could ride along Dickson street as it is, but it is a door zone and unpleasant for most people. The fact that the separated bike way stops 500m before Eagle Junction is a real barrier for people.’

‘The newly announced changes are good for school transport, but this isn’t the best transport outcome,’ Andrew Demack continued. ‘Bicycle Queensland would like to see the best transport outcome to be what is finally built. This proposed link remains a good link from the high-quality North Brisbane bikeway to the Kedron Brook bikeway that includes access to a school. However this is not the solution that delivers a high-quality link through Eagle Junction to Kedron Brook bikeway.’

Bicycle Queensland’s CEO Alton Twine wrote to Cr Ryan Murphy to express how Bicycle Queensland, the Bicycle User Groups, and over 12000 BQ members felt about the decision.

Cr Murphy acknowledged the difficulties for the 5th stage of the North Brisbane bikeway – from concept through to construction.

‘As Transport Chair, I carefully reviewed each of the proposed alignments and found that they had their own technical strengths and weaknesses, as well as differing levels of support within the community. No option was perfect.’

It seems that despite the results of the community consultation, at the end of the day the decision has been made according to “broader concerns” raised by Local State MP Tim Nicholls and local Councillor Dixon, as noted in the response to petitioners provided by BCC. We are not sure what these concerns actually are.

‘I understand that some of your members will likely be disappointed in this outcome. However, it’s important that Council listens to community stakeholders, and makes adjustments when required, as we have here.’

‘This alignment will strike a balance that will allow cyclists to traverse the North Brisbane Bikeway in its entirety, while minimising negative impacts on the local community.’

If you have feedback, we encourage you to write to the local councillor, Cr Julia Dixon: hamilton.ward@bcc.qld.gov.au

You can also sign a petition to make Dickson Street safer for bike and e-scooter riding.

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Advocacy

Advocacy Update: February 10th 2025

Lots has been going on in 2025 so far, including Bicycle Queensland’s first meeting with both the Regional Bicycle User Groups, and the Brisbane Metropolitan area Bicycle User Groups.

All about Bicycle User Groups (BUGs).

We’re working on finalising our position papers on high-powered e-bikes that don’t meet Australian standards, and much more!

If you have more questions, email us at bqinfo@bq.org.au or call the office on 07 3844 1144.

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Advocacy

Bicycle Queensland’s submission for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games 100 Day Review

As part of the Queensland Government’s Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games 100 Day Review, Bicycle Queensland has made a submission with the support of We Ride and AusCycling.

Bicycle Queensland have outlined the primary goal of improved connectivity and integration for active transport as a top priority outcome from the Games, creating a sustainable transport legacy.

The benefits of an improved active transport system are many. Riding and walking are ideal for the mass movement of people for the Games and any other major event, providing a carbon-neutral, accessible, healthy and affordable means of transport. It also requires less infrastructure investment and drives economic growth.

Bicycle Queensland proposes a target of 90% of all spectator trips to be made by public or active transport, with a legacy of 20% of all journeys in Brisbane to be made by active transport post-Games.

To achieve this, Bicycle Queensland recommends developing Smart Spines: tree-lined, digitally enabled active transport corridors that link event venues, accommodation and key city landmarks. Event venues must be active and public transport friendly, with ample parking for bikes or scooters and increased availability of hire bikes and scooters during the Games. We encourage the completion of missing links in the active transport network, and the funding of existing Principal Cycle Network Plans for improved access in areas of Regional Queensland.

‘The Games present a unique opportunity for Queensland to take our active transport network to a global standard,’ said Alton Twine, CEO of Bicycle Queensland. ‘Just last year, Paris showed us what is possible when it comes to effecting change of modality not just in the Games, but as a legacy. Queensland has a lot of the planning in place, and we need to seize this opportunity to deliver a great outcome for the Games, and for Queenslanders.’

READ BICYCLE QUEENSLAND’S EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THEIR SUBMISSION

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Advocacy

Kangaroo Point: no longer a bridge too far

BCC Chair of Transport Cr Ryan Murphy with Richard Buning (BQ Director) and Alton Twine (BQ CEO)

If a piece of infrastructure has been talked about for decades, does that mean it is inevitable that it will eventually be built, or that is so challenging that no authority will ever find the money to do the job?

On Sunday 15 December 2024 Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner opened the new Kangaroo Point walking and cycling bridge, which spans the Brisbane River from the corner of Edward and Alice Streets in the CBD to Scott Street in Kangaroo Point.

As the Council’s Chair of Transport Cr Ryan Murphy (pictured left with BQ board member Richard Buning and BQ CEO Alton Twine) has put it: “Kangaroo Point is now part of the CBD.”

The BQ team was represented at the opening event by CEO Alton Twine.

In his speech at the opening, Lord Mayor Schrinner acknowledged that the Kangaroo Point bridge has been talked about in Brisbane since the 1800s, and the first plans for the bridge from 1890 were now 130 years old.

The key question, the Mayor said, was who would pay for the bridge. The answer turns out that it was funded by Brisbane City Council in partnership with the Federal Government.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King also spoke at the opening and praised BCC’s vision for the bridge project.

Our photo above shows (from left) Cr Ryan Murphy, BQ board member Richard Buning, and BQ CEO Alton Twine on the new Kangaroo Point Bridge. Our video below gives some indication of the massive crowd which welcomed the new bridge.

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Advocacy Press releases

Bikeway dismount hours amended to allow evening commute

The Sono Lumo lights festival at Star Casino is causing an issue for bike and scooter riders who use the Bicentennial Bikeway. The event organisers had required that riders must dismount from 4-11pm to travel through the Festival area at Queen’s Wharf.

Bicycle Queensland CEO Alton Twine said: “It is unacceptable to require bike riders to dismount on their commute home on Brisbane’s busiest bikeway. The timing applied to date is simply too restrictive. We’ve heard from plenty of members who are having to find other routes to bypass this event.”

There has been also significant protest about this blockage from Brisbane CBD BUG and Space4Cycling.

BQ had earlier spoken to Destination Brisbane Consortium before the festival began, and had offered a solution that would enable commuters to continue to ride through the space (Queen’s Wharf Plaza) which bisects the Bicentennial Bikeway at the new casino, until the end of the evening peak. 

Today BQ spoke with organisers of the event and let them know of the concerns of the cycling community, asking for a push-back on the timing that will at least allow for the evening commute to occur without interruption. Star Casino have agreed to not enforce the dismount until it is necessary for safety reasons, and have asked all bike riders to please ride slowly through the event zone. BQ’s understanding is that the requirement to dismount will now be after the evening peak. We remain concerned about this situation and will continue to monitor it until we have an outcome that allows people using this space for active transport to do so safely and conveniently. 

At the heart of the issue is the poor design choices made in this area when part of this transport corridor was surrendered to become part of this precinct. The State could have kept the bikeway separate to the multi-use area, but have compromised both the integrity of the corridor and the safety of all users by choosing not to. When an event like Sono Lumo comes along, this failure becomes all too evident.

BQ has also raised with Destination Brisbane Consortium our concern over the rumble strips placed on the bikeway near Queens Wharf Plaza without consultation with any bike groups. We believe that these strips are unnecessary, and a safety concern especially for e-scooter riders.  This is an on-going concern and we have no news to report on that matter.

It is clear that Queens Wharf Plaza must have an uninterrupted path for bike riders that can be ridden safely and conveniently 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It is part of the Bicentennial Bikeway, the most popular bike route into Brisbane’s CBD.

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Advocacy Press releases

CEO Message: The Queensland Election

Dear BQ Members,

The state government election now less than one week away.

In August and September, Bicycle Queensland met with members, people interested in cycling, communities and candidates across Queensland, advocating for a better deal for cyclists and scooter riders in the forthcoming election. We also wrote to the Minister and Shadow Minister for Transport and Main Roads to support better outcomes for riders through better policy, programs and funding. 

The Minister’s letter in response to our CEO cited the current government’s record of achievements in building active transport projects, but did not make any commitments to increased funding in future. The Shadow Minister acknowledged our letter.

Our discussions focused on the 7 key improvements that governments can make. These are:

  1. Aim for 10% of trips by active transport by 2032 and commit 10% of the transport budget to making it happen.
  2. Fill in the missing links in the network.
  3. Maintain what is there already
  4. Improve signage for safety and wayfinding
  5. Look for cycle tourism opportunities
  6. Engage with users
  7. Build more shared paths and bikeways

In an election dominated by issues of youth crime, ambulance ramping, housing supply and the cost of living, cycling hasn’t rated much of a mention. When the major parties do talk about transport issues, its usually around “fixing” the Bruce highway and improving public transport. Big expensive items. Yet bike riding is for everyone everywhere and major improvements can be done for a fraction of the cost.

In the lead up to Saturday, we encourage everyone who has an interest in better outcomes for cycling and riding to contact their local candidates and let them know how important bike riding is to you and to all Queenslanders.

Regards

Alton

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Advocacy Press releases

Brisbane’s CityLink Cycleway expands

In good news, the CityLink Cycleway is set to expand from East Brisbane to West End, resulting in a four-kilometre link using two Brisbane River crossings. The Schrinner Council announced the third stage of the CityLink Cycleway today. This will add two new projects, the first involving a new 1.2-kilometre shared path from Deakin Street at Kangaroo Point to Shafston Avenue at East Brisbane. The Shafston Avenue bikeway will connect to the existing CityLink Cycleway at Kangaroo Point.

This connection will link to the 460-metre Kangaroo Point Bridge, which is due to open on 15 December, and the 200-metre Main and Deakin Street Story Bridge underpass. There is a a second project planned that will also extend the CityLink Cycleway further south to West End.

Brisbane City Council confirmed that works are already underway to construct a bikeway along Melbourne Street between the Victoria Bridge and Cordelia Street as part of the Brisbane Metro project, with completion expected next financial year. Council will further extend this bikeway along Melbourne Street to Boundary Street in West End.

All up, the CityLink Cycleway will provide a four-kilometre cross-town scooter and cycling link once finished, connecting five suburbs and two major crossings of the Brisbane River.

‘CityLink Cycleway was always about creating an inner-city cycling and scooting spine, that we could build out into the suburbs to make it more attractive for residents and visitors to use active transport in Brisbane,’ said Ryan Murphy. ‘The delivery of this project will ensure residents of the eastern suburbs and West End can look forward to using a safe and separated connection to the CBD and beyond.’ 

‘We know it’s important to grow our active transport network in the lead up to the 2032 Games to ensure residents and visitors can safely and conveniently move between venues and attractions.’

‘This is a very welcome addition to the network of cycleways in Brisbane, allowing better access from West End to East Brisbane,’ said Bicycle Queensland’s CEO Alton Twine. ‘The excellent connections that the Kangaroo Point Bridge will provide, are supported by these new links. The new link down Melbourne Street will be particularly useful into West End and the link to Shafston Avenue sets up future improvements for cycling and scooting into the eastern suburbs. The realisation of safe links to the eastern suburbs continues to be a significant aim for the network.’

The bridge is expected to reduce cycling commute times by up to 50 per cent, cutting travel between Brisbane’s eastern suburbs and the CBD by up to 15 minutes, and by up to 30 minutes for pedestrians.