Queensland E-Bike Safety Report Sparks Concerns Over Under-16 Ban and Fines
A long-awaited safety report on e-mobility vehicles in Queensland has been released, with recommendations that could see thousands of children lose their Christmas e-bikes. Parents may also face potential fines if their children violate the proposed rules, as the state government considers sweeping changes to improve safety.
Potential Ban for Under-16s and New Licensing Requirements
The parliamentary committee delivered 28 recommendations aimed at addressing the skyrocketing number of e-bikes and e-scooters on Queensland roads. Among the key proposals is a complete ban on children under the age of 16 from riding e-mobility vehicles. Experts advised that this age group lacks the necessary cognitive and motor skills to operate these devices safely, compounded by a limited understanding of road rules.
Additionally, the inquiry recommends that riders should be limited to a maximum speed of 10km/h on footpaths to discourage hooning and address pedestrian safety concerns. Any device with a top speed exceeding 25km/h would be classified as a motorcycle, requiring registration, insurance, and use only on roads. Riders could also need to hold at least a learner or motorbike licence, with exceptions for wheelchair and other accessibility device users.
Rising Safety Incidents and Emergency Cases
The push for reform follows a series of devastating crashes across Queensland, with 14 people, including children, killed in e-mobility incidents in 2025 alone. Queensland Health reported more than 6,300 e-mobility related emergency department presentations in the year to March 2025, a figure believed to be well below the actual number of incidents. Over 200 cases involved major trauma, with more than 60 requiring intensive care, primarily for head and facial injuries.
Queensland police have been targeting unsafe and non-compliant devices, including executing search warrants and seizing illegal e-bikes from teenagers' homes after incidents like a Brisbane tunnel crash. Under current law, e-bikes used in public must be predominantly pedal-powered, with a small electric motor providing assistance up to 250 watts and cutting out at 25km/h. The proposed changes would grant police the power to seize and impound illegal devices.
Government Response and Impact on Families
The transport minister has described the recommendations as comprehensive and practical, stating that the state government will review them before deciding which measures to implement. However, the committee acknowledged that thousands of families with children under 16 already legally own e-bikes and e-scooters. The report notes that these devices, when used responsibly, provide a viable and valuable component of Queensland's public transport system.
As the government deliberates, parents and children face uncertainty over the future of their e-mobility vehicles, with potential bans and fines looming on the horizon.
