We Ride Australia, the national independent voice for cycling

Media statement, Wednesday 25 March 2026

The Crisifulli Government has responded to the Inquiry into e-mobility safety and use in Queensland, accepting all 28 recommendations put forward by the committee.

The committee members strongly endorsed e-bikes as a safe and valuable form of transport but have publicly stated that these recommendations were not all endorsed by the entire committee.

We Ride Australia (WeRide) has worked closely with jurisdictions across the country to promote access to safe bikes and safe places to ride. WeRide agrees with and supports the majority of the recommendations but is concerned with the unintended consequences of three specific recommendations.

WeRide strongly believes that the ability to ride safe, legal e-bikes is exactly what Queenslanders (and all Australians) are looking for, especially now as their petrol bills skyrocket.

WeRide has joined with interested groups in seeking three changes to the bill being tabled in the Qld Parliament this week:

  1. The removal of the licensing requirement
  2. Reconsideration of the age-limit, and
  3. Removal the 10km/h limit for all footpaths.

Above: Bicycle NSW CEO, Peter Mclean demonstrates various legal and non-legal e-bikes to host of 60 Minutes, Amelia Adams.

WeRide’s Executive Officer, Peter Bourke, has been active in the media discussing the issues and has addressed the three points.

“Our aim is to remove illegal and unsafe e-bikes from our streets, increasing access to high quality and legal products is a priority and we strongly support the Qld recommendations for import and sales measures, designed to achieve that.

“Licensing is for motorbikes and cars, not bicycles which are a safe and healthy form of active transport and should not need a license to pedal.

“Many individuals from the disability sector, seniors, socially or financially isolated or international visitors do not have or are not able to obtain a license and would be excluded from convenient active travel options – how will tens of thousands of inbound Olympic tourists move around Brisbane and SEQ in 2032?

“We do strongly agree however that bikes that are not compliant with speed, throttle and power restrictions, should be considered as motor vehicles and treated accordingly with insurance and licensing.

As concerns the age limit, safe and compliant e-bikes are a fantastic transport option for many Australians, especially for high school children, promoting independent travel and reducing the dangers of high volumes of cars around school gates. It also provides a practical and safe way for teens to get to their first jobs, many starting at 15, without the need to rely on mum and dad.

“Safe cycling to school or work on legal e-bikes is not any different to riding a pedal bicycle if we have adopted all other recommendations being considered to control illegal e-bikes.

“Finally, there are many dedicated bikeways designed for heavy bicycle traffic that are caught in the ‘blanket’ limit of 10kph.

“We need key commuter routes to operate as normal but for sure we should limit speed where bikes mix with pedestrians,” said Peter Bourke.

WeRide call for amendments

WeRide supports the majority of recommendations in The Inquiry into e-mobility safety and use in Queensland, but is calling for amendments to three key recommendations:

  1. Removal of the requirement that e-bike riders must have a C-class license
  2. Reduction of the 16-year age limit to ride legal, EN15194-compliant e-bikes, and
  3. Removal of a blanket 10kph speed limit for all riders of legal, compliant e-bikes.

Compliant e-bikes are a safe, viable form of transport used by children, disadvantaged, disabled riders and older people around the world.
WeRide recognises the substantial work of the Inquiry with three key exceptions and calls on the Minister for Transport to amend the legislation tabled in Parliament.

Further action

WeRide is now examining the 90-page Queensland legislation in detail to understand all the measures being proposed and will release further statements as and when appropriate.

Breaking news from NSW – we are delighted that NSW today signed the Road Transport Legislative Amendment to introduce EN15194 to define a road legal e-bike in NSW.

Media contacts

  • Peter Bourke, General Manager, Bicycle Industries Australia, mob. 0438 871 271
  • Stephen Hodge, Director – National Advocacy, We Ride Australia, mob. 0411 149 910