Queensland Tightens E-Bike and Scooter Rules

Queensland has introduced sweeping legislation to tighten regulations on electric bikes and scooters, banning riders under 16 years old and requiring a learner's driver's license for those over that age. The reforms, tabled in state parliament this week, aim to enhance road safety amid rising incidents involving the devices.

The new laws, which endorse all 28 recommendations from a parliamentary committee's nine-month inquiry, include a 10 kilometer-per-hour speed limit on shared footpaths to protect pedestrians. Police will gain authority to conduct random breath tests on riders, seize and destroy illegal or modified devices on a first offense, and hold parents liable for fines if children under 16 are caught riding. Retailers face penalties for selling noncompliant high-power devices or modification kits, while e-bikes exceeding 25 kilometers per hour or with motors larger than 250 watts will be reclassified as motorcycles, requiring registration and insurance. The measures also prohibit use by individuals medically unfit to drive, though exemptions apply to e-wheelchairs and other mobility aids for people with disabilities.

Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg described the...