Queensland E-Bike Law — 2026
You scanned a QR code on someone's bike. Here's why it's there.
Proposed shared path speed limit
That's slower than a jogging pace.
The person whose bike you scanned rides a cargo e-bike to work in Brisbane. They use shared paths. They give way to pedestrians. They're not the problem this law is trying to solve.
The QLD government's new e-mobility laws are largely a good thing. Cracking down on illegal, high-powered devices that have caused real harm — including 12 deaths in 2025 — makes complete sense.
But one clause — a 10km/h speed limit on footpaths and shared paths — has a serious unintended consequence that punishes riders like me.
The problem? It's unclear whether most of Queensland's shared paths, riverside paths, and long-distance rail trails count as "footpaths" under existing legislation. If they do, this law effectively bans practical e-bike commuting across the entire state — for legal, compliant riders who've done nothing wrong.
It's also physically dangerous. Riding any bike at 10km/h creates instability — more wobble, less control. A slow-speed mandate could actually make paths less safe.
The bill has been referred back to committee — this is the window to push back before it passes. It won't take long.
Print the sign. Stick it on your bike.
Print Sign