E-bikes, e-scooters and other personal mobility devices (“PMDs”) are rapidly growing in popularity across Queensland, offering a convenient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly mode of transport. However, the rise in e-bikes and other electronic devices has led to an increase in injuries and accidents, prompting the Queensland Government to introduce new laws which are expected to apply from 1 July 2026.
Proposed Law Changes for E-Scooters and PMDs
At present, the current rules apply (and will continue to do so):
- A legal e-bike must have pedals that are the primary source of power
- The e-bike motor must be restricted to a maximum continuous power of 250W
- The motor must stop providing assistance at 25km/h
Those measures alone, however, have not proven successful in limiting accidents and injuries caused by e-bikes and e-scooters and, as a result, the Queensland Government tasked the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee with conducting a Parliamentary Inquiry into the safety and use of e-devices like e-bikes and e-scooters.
On 4 March 2026, the Committee tabled its report, making 28 recommendations addressing key issues such as rider safety, enforcement and regulatory oversight. Some of the key recommendations include:
- Introducing a minimum rider age of 16 years
- Requiring riders to hold a valid driver’s licence (i.e. at least a learner driver’s licence)
- Implementing a consistent 10km/h speed limit on footpaths and shared pathways
- Expanding enforcement powers, including random breath testing and new drink riding offences
- Allowing action to be taken against parents where children under 16 use e-bikes or e-scooters
- Prohibiting the sale of e-bikes, e-scooters and other PMDs to children under 16
The Queensland Government has accepted, or accepted in principle, all 28 recommendations. As a result, the Transport and Other Legislation (Managing E-mobility Use and Protecting Our Communities) Amendment Bill 2026 (Qld) was introduced into the Queensland Parliament and has been referred back to the Committee for further consideration and public submissions.
What This Means for Riders and Pedestrians
In the likely event that these changes are implemented, the new laws will undoubtedly improve safety around the use of e-devices. In particular:
- Requiring riders to hold at least a learner driver’s licence means that all e-bike riders will have a good understanding of the road rules.
- Parents will be forced to ensure that their children under the age of 16 are not using e-bikes or e-scooters, as the parents can personally be responsible if anything goes wrong. This potentially leaves the parents exposed to fines or other penalties, as well as civil litigation from aggrieved parties if the laws are breached.
- Riders can be required to undertake roadside breath tests and be subject to drink driving penalties, which will mean that far less riders will be operating their e-device whilst intoxicated.
While the proposed reforms represent a significant step toward improving safety, there remain important gaps in the current framework.
Notably, the proposed legislation does not require e-bikes, e-scooters or PMDs to be registered or insured. This creates potential challenges for individuals whose vehicles or property are damaged, or for those who are injured, in an e-bike, e-scooter or other e-device accident, particularly where the at-fault party or their parents (in the case of children under the age of 16) do not have the financial capacity to cover any loss or damage.
It will also be interesting to see how the rules are enforced, given that the resources and personnel from Queensland Police are already stretched to the limit. Only time will tell whether the proposed changes to the law have their desired effect but for now we remain hopeful that the new laws will improve the safety of all road users, cyclists and pedestrians alike.
