UPDATE: On 4 June, the new E-Mobility laws passed Parliament.
Here’s where the laws have landed in the final form of the bill:
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From 1 July, speed limits for legal e-bikes and e-scooters will be:
- 12km/hr on all footpaths
- 12km/hr while passing a pedestrian on all shared paths
- No new speed limits on separated bikeways
- From 31 August, legal e-bikes and e-scooters will be banned for under 16s, with an exemption for 12-17 year olds who are under direct parental supervision.
- Anyone 16 or older will need a driver’s licence to ride a legal e-bike or e-scooter from 31 August, but an exemption framework will be developed before then.
- E-bikes will need a compliance label showing they meet EN15194 standards, or an exemption.
- There will be exemptions from all of the above in designated areas like rail trails or mountain bike parks.
There’s more information on the government’s website here.
You can read the transcript of my speech in Parliament here, or watch a video of my speech here.
On 8 May, the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee tabled their report on the draft Bill. Their report contained 9 recommendations on the Bill, including allowing an exemption to licensing requirements, relaxing the 10km/hr speed limit on footpaths and shared paths, and introducing a mechanism to certify compliant e-bikes.
While some of the recommendations are positive, they are overall a poor attempt to patch the problems in the Bill, and instead just add more complexity and confusion. Most importantly, they do nothing to prevent the sale of electric motorcycles which are currently being used illegally on Queensland roads and streets. The bill has failed to address the actual problems raised by the inquiry, but instead imposed new barriers to safe, law abiding Queenslanders.
Click here to read the recommendations and my response.
Almost 5000 people made submissions on the Bill, resulting in major changes before the Bill passed Parliament.