Brisbane riders are set to descend on Kangaroo Point this Wednesday, 1 April, for a snap protest ride to Parliament House, pushing back against proposed Queensland laws that would significantly tighten restrictions on legal pedal-assist e-bikes and e-scooters.
Read: Kangaroo Point Bikeway Now Has Bicycle Awareness Monitors
The ride, organised by the Story Bridge Active Travel Alliance and supported by Bicycle Queensland, will gather at Raymond Park in Kangaroo Point at 5:00pm, with a 5:30pm departure along a route that crosses the Story Bridge before arriving at Parliament House. Organisers say the choice of route is deliberate.
Kathryn Good of the Story Bridge Active Travel Alliance argued that state officials were holding back everyday riders rather than investing in safe infrastructure, adding that if riders were being pushed onto the roads, then that is exactly where they would go.
The protest is a direct response to a Bill introduced by the LNP that would require riders to hold a valid Australian driver’s licence to operate a legal pedal-assist e-bike or e-scooter, ban their use by anyone under 16, and impose a 10km/h speed limit on footpaths and shared paths across the state.
State officials have stated the 10km/h limit is designed to “deter” people from riding on shared paths, pushing them onto what they describe as “high quality” infrastructure. But riders argue that network does not actually exist for most people. As Good put it, “For most people, it’s not a choice between a separated bikeway and a footpath — it’s a choice between a footpath and fast, hostile traffic.”
The route over the Story Bridge is intended to put that argument in plain view. Under the proposed laws, legal pedal-assist riders crossing the bridge would face a choice between travelling at 10km/h on its footpaths or riding alongside motor vehicles in traffic.
Bicycle Queensland, the state’s peak cycling advocacy body, has come out strongly against several elements of the Bill. The organisation has raised particular concern about the driver’s licence requirement, warning it would cut off access to e-bikes for people who depend on them most.
“Any reforms must protect the right of Queenslanders to ride safe, legal bicycles and e-bikes without unnecessary barriers — this is not the time to make safe cycling harder or less appealing,” said Bicycle Queensland CEO Dr Matthew Burke.
The group points out that some Queensland suburbs have households without a licensed driver making up around 30 per cent of the population, and that e-bikes serve as a critical transport option in those areas. Seniors, people living with disability, and those who have lost their licence for other reasons are among those who rely on e-bikes to get around or get to work.
The licence requirement could also affect Queensland’s tourism and gig economy sectors. E-bike hire schemes such as Lime’s Gold Coast operations, food delivery workers, and international tourists visiting during the 2032 Olympics could all be impacted if the laws pass as proposed.
On the question of age restrictions, Bicycle Queensland has acknowledged some form of age threshold may be reasonable, but argues 16 is too high. “A 16 and higher limit impacts families who use legal, safe e-bikes for recreation and transport, including the journey to school,” the organisation noted, pointing to New South Wales, which is currently working through an expert process to determine an appropriate minimum age between 12 and 16.
Concerns have also been raised about the practicality of a 10km/h footpath speed limit. Bicycle Queensland has noted that many of Queensland’s shared riverside paths, foreshore routes, and long-distance rail trails may technically qualify as footpaths under existing legislation, meaning the speed cap could effectively apply statewide. The organisation also notes that riding at 10km/h can itself be physically difficult, potentially increasing wobble and reducing rider stability.
Read: Raymond Park to Become Temporary Warm-Up Venue for 2032 Brisbane Olympics
Organisers of Wednesday’s ride have stressed the event is for legal pedal-assist e-bikes and standard bicycles only. Illegal e-motorbikes, which have been at the centre of separate community safety concerns, are explicitly not part of the ride. The protest will operate as a legal group ride, with all participants expected to follow road rules.
Those who cannot attend are being encouraged to write to the e-mobility parliamentary committee or contact their local state MP and councillor.
The ride departs Raymond Park, Kangaroo Point, at 5:30pm this Wednesday, 1 April.
Published 31-March-2026
