Bicycle Queensland is hitting the road, with our first major regional visit for the year starting on 19 May. The regional visits that Bicycle Queensland undertook last year were essential to inform us about the issues in specific areas, along with state wide areas of concern.
Come along if you would like to discuss any concerns in your area, and meet other riders who are interested in advocacy for cycling and scooter riding. The regional visits will be undertaken by Bicycle Queensland’s CEO Alton Twine and Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack.
Bicycle Queensland has welcomed the Crisafulli Government’s announcement of a Parliamentary Inquiry into the safety of personal mobility devices (PMDs), including e-scooters and e-bikes, across Queensland, following Minister Brent Mickelberg’s support of BQ’s position statement on high powered e-bikes.
The inquiry will examine the benefits and risks of e-mobility devices, evaluate existing laws and enforcement, and explore improvements in public education, importation rules, and safety regulation.
With the use of e-mobility devices rapidly increasing as more Queenslanders seek affordable, sustainable, and accessible ways to travel, Bicycle Queensland says the time is right for a comprehensive review that distinguishes between legal, safe devices and high-powered illegal alternatives.
Bicycle Queensland CEO Alton Twine said the organisation would make a formal submission to the inquiry, focused on improving safety outcomes while protecting the role of compliant e-bikes and e-scooters in the state’s transport future, which matches the position paper put forward in early 2025.
“We strongly support this inquiry as an important step toward safer, smarter mobility,” Mr Twine said.
“It’s vital that compliant e-bikes and e-scooters remain recognised as legitimate and safe transport options—and that we urgently address the risks posed by high-powered, throttle-controlled devices that don’t meet Australian standards.”
The Queensland Government highlighted a 112% increase in injuries involving PMD riders, passengers and pedestrians from 2021 to 2024, and eight fatalities in the last year alone. Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg, noted widespread public concern about illegal devices, under-regulation, and enforcement gaps—issues Bicycle Queensland has consistently raised.
“Queenslanders deserve clear, enforceable rules and a public education campaign to help people understand which devices are legal and safe, and which aren’t,” Mr Twine said.
“We want to see a future where people can confidently choose e-mobility to get to work, school, or the train station—but that future depends on getting the regulations right, keeping shared paths and public spaces safe for everyone – and making sure they are continued to be built. This is a chance to build a balanced, inclusive and future-focused e-mobility framework for Queensland,” Mr Twine said.
E-bikes and e-mobility are getting people moving.
Besides the increase in injuries involving PMD riders, the national road toll is also rising for the first time since the 1970s, despite advancements in vehicle safety and road infrastructure. This paradox underscores the need to focus on human behaviour—how we drive, ride, and walk in our communities.
Mandatory swimming education has been successful in reducing drowning incidents around Australia, and Bicycle Queensland believes that early and consistent road safety education as part of the national primary and secondary school curriculum can cultivate responsible behaviours among future road users – and put downward pressure on a rising road toll.
By instilling road safety principles from a young age, we can nurture a culture of mindfulness and responsibility, ultimately reducing accidents and saving lives.
Bicycle Queensland encourages members and stakeholders to engage with the inquiry process when submissions open, and will continue to represent the interests of everyday riders as the conversation evolves.
In a reminder that bicycle advocacy is about persistence over time, Bicycle Queensland congratulates Brisbane City Council on the announcement that construction on the 600m shared path from Schneider Road to Viola Place starts this month. It is a tiny but vital link that completes a safe cycling route to (most of) the Brisbane Airport precinct.
On hearing the good news we checked in with our friends at Airport BUG, who BQ have worked with on this issue for close to a decade.
“Airport BUG are very pleased that construction on the Viola Place to Schneider Rd bikeway starting this month. The bikeway will connect the long awaited section of the Moreton Bay Cycleway from the Gateway Bridge bikeway to the Kedron Brook Bikeway” Mitch Bright from Airport BUG said.
“Airport workers will be able for the first time to connect to Lamington Avenue and through to Lores Bonney Riverwalk via Nudgee Rd.
“The next steps are to complete the active transport infrastructure on Lamington Avenue and to make Nudgee Rd safer for cycling by removing car parking from the bike lanes there.”
“This is a great link from the Gateway Bridge to Kedron Brook, completing a missing link,” said BQ’s Director of Advocacy, Andrew Demack. “However, more sections need to be completed in the future to make the best use of the current investment infrastructure.”
The focus now shifts to Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) to complete a safe cycling route to the Domestic Terminal. BQ and Airport BUG have been part of the consultation process, but we will be contacting BAC to encourage them to complete this long-awaited project.
Completing missing links is the best value for money action that BCC can take to improve safe bike riding right across Brisbane. In 2023 we collaborated with the metro area BUGs on a document for BCC prioritising which links would have the greatest impact and should therefore be top priority. That document is still highly relevant.
BQ looks forward to more priorities from this list being announced in the future.
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg MP, has supported Bicycle Queensland’s push for stronger regulation of import and sales of illegal high-powered e-bikes. This campaign has gained traction, as Minister Mickelberg acknowledges the seriousness of the issue, offering support for BQ’s position at a national level in his response received on April 29, 2025.
In his reply to Bicycle Queensland’s open letter to the federal government and ongoing advocacy around illegal e-bike imports and sales, Minister Mickelberg confirmed the Crisafulli Government shares BQ’s concerns over the growing presence of non-compliant e-bikes on Queensland’s roads and pathways, and the major safety issue that creates.
“This issue is primarily one of importation and classification and therefore a matter for the Commonwealth Government,” Minister Mickelberg wrote. “I will be pleased to advocate for your position at the national level.”
Bicycle Queensland CEO Alton Twine welcomed the Minister’s support and his willingness to elevate the matter federally.
“We’re encouraged by Minister Mickelberg’s response and his recognition that illegal high-powered e-bikes pose a safety risk to all Queenslanders,” Mr Twine said. “We look forward to working with the Queensland Government to ensure this issue remains on the national agenda.”
BQ’s position calls for immediate action to:
Restrict the import and sale of non-compliant e-bikes and throttle-powered PMDs,
Enforce compliance with the EN15194 standard,
Launch a public awareness campaign to educate riders on the legal status of e-bikes,
Enable police and inspectors to test and enforce regulations,
Support exemptions for people with disability and private property use.
Minister Mickelberg’s response represents a significant step forward in aligning state and federal perspectives on managing the risks associated with unregulated devices, while promoting the adoption and use of compliant e-devices for active transport and micromobility.
Bicycle Queensland will continue advocating for safe, legal, and sustainable e-mobility—and welcomes the Minister’s willingness to represent Queenslanders on this matter at the Commonwealth level.
You can support Bicycle Queensland’s advocacy work to help make Queensland a safer, more connected place to ride by becoming a Bicycle Queensland member, from just $54 a year.
Bicycle Queensland and our national advocacy partners will continue to press the incoming Federal Government to invest in active transport infrastructure.
In the lead-up to the Saturday’s Federal Election, Bicycle Queensland wrote to all candidates asking for their commitment to support active transport — walking and cycling — at a national level. Our requests included allocating $250 million per year to active transport infrastructure, restricting the importation of non-compliant high-powered e-bikes, removing the 5% tariff on compliant electric bikes, and working with State and local governments to deliver safe school cycling infrastructure.
Neither Labor or the LNP, the parties most likely to form a majority government, have policies that commit to implementing our plans for active transport infrastructure. We did not receive a negative response, more a commitment to investigate further once a Government is formed.
Andrew Demack, BQ’s Director of Advocacy said “ this at least is promising. The federal government has left funding for active transport to the states for far too long . Now is the time for them to act.”
Independents and minor parties across the political spectrum did offer support. The Australian Greens noted that funding cycling infrastructure would be part of their pledge of a $40 billion Sustainable Cities Fund. Personal responses received from candidates for various minor parties including Trumpet of Patriots and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation expressed support for better cycling infrastructure.
Bicycle Queensland CEO Alton Twine said “It seems that almost all parties see the need for better active transport, but actually making the required funding available for cycling is where the rubber hits the road (or better still, separated cycleway)”.
Regardless of the election outcome, Bicycle Queensland is committed to working with elected representatives to ensure that cycling, micromobility and walking are safe, accessible, and a vital part of Australia’s transport future.
Bicycle Queensland CEO Alton Twine and Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack check in for an update this April. With a federal election coming up, Alton covers what Bicycle Queensland and We Ride are asking for: federal funding for active transport (walking and riding). They also discuss high powered e-bikes, tariffs and more.
In a dynamic discussion held recently with Roxanne De Beaux, CEO of Camcycle, along with several active transport advocacy groups, Bicycle Queensland joined voices across hemispheres to reflect on the progress and persistent challenges of building safer, more inclusive streets for everyone.
The conversation began with a bold comparison: Sydney — once dubbed “the city that hates bikes” — is transforming its reputation. The opening of a new cycleway in Ultimo on the very day of the discussion marked another step forward, with attendees applauding Fiona Campbell’s leadership as Manager of Cycling Strategy for City of Sydney.
Cambridge’s experience offers powerful lessons in how storytelling can shape public perception. Rather than speaking only to ‘cyclists,’ Camcycle tells stories that resonate more broadly — with parents, workers, students, and communities. This shift from reactive to proactive advocacy has helped them set a compelling vision, making tough but strategic decisions like scaling back the Reach Ride program in order to better allocate resources. Their growing network of influence — including allies in industry and government — is a testament to the power of alignment and clear priorities.
The discussion also touched on the shared growing pains of expanding cities. From Waterbeach in Cambridge to Bradfield in Sydney, and even Brisbane’s own suburban sprawl, the message was clear: advocacy must begin early in the planning process to ensure walking and cycling infrastructure is not an afterthought. With the 2032 Brisbane Olympics on the horizon, many noted this as an “all or nothing” opportunity to embed legacy-defining infrastructure for generations to come.
Another powerful thread was the importance of including the “unusual suspects” — voices often left out of traditional active transport narratives. Culturally and linguistically diverse women in western Sydney were highlighted as powerful advocates for safer walking and cycling, bringing fresh perspectives and a deeper understanding of the ‘why’ behind active transport.
As the conversation wrapped up, there was a shared moment of reflection. Advocacy can be tough. It takes stamina, resilience, and compassion. But it also comes with the deep reward of seeing streets transformed and lives changed.
“These conversations show us we’re not alone — our challenges are shared, but so are the solutions,” said Bicycle Queensland’s CEO Alton Twine after the discussion. “What we’ve seen in Cambridge and Sydney proves that change is not only possible, it’s already happening. It’s a reminder to keep pushing forward, because the streets we imagine are within reach.”
For Brisbane and Queensland’s regional centres, the message is clear: the road ahead may have bumps, but it’s one worth riding.
The Sunshine Coast has a growing community of bike riders, with social cycling groups popping up across the region. In Bicycle Queensland’s forums with our members last year, it was clear that the Sunshine Coast needed a Bicycle User Group to co-ordinate advocacy efforts, and engage with the Council and the district office of Transport and Main Roads.
BQ members who are also members of the Sunshine Coast Bicycle Touring Club, the Crocs cycling group, the Golden Beach Cycling group, the Maleny Lycra Lizards, Sunny Coast Walkers and Riders and several others gathered at Maroochydore this morning to take the next step in forming the Sunshine Coast Bicycle Users Group.
Our photo shows the enthusiastic and knowledgeable BQ members who gathered with the intention of helping to make the Sunshine Coast the cycling capital of Queensland!
Want to get on the mailing list for the new BUG? Email webadmin@SCBTC.net with the subject ‘Sunshine Coast Bicycle User Group’.
