Redlands MP Rebecca Young says the release of the Parliamentary Inquiry into personal e-mobility devices such as e-scooters and e-bikes is an important step toward restoring safety on local roads and footpaths.
Ms Young said the report confirmed growing community concerns about the rapid increase of high-powered and illegal devices.
“In communities like the Redlands, residents regularly raise concerns about the safety of e-scooters and e-bikes on our footpaths, foreshore areas and shared pathways,” Ms Young said.
“Small family businesses have told me their customers are being put at risk by high-powered e-bikes riding dangerously on footpaths outside their shops.”
“Business owners are worried about riders travelling at speed through shopping village precincts and creating unsafe situations for pedestrians and families visiting local centres.”
The Parliamentary Inquiry received more than 1,200 submissions from commuters, councils, health professionals and industry experts, with hearings held across Queensland including in Brisbane.
Ms Young said the report confirmed the former Labor Government had failed to keep pace with the rapid growth of e-mobility devices.
“The report confirms what many Queenslanders already knew. During Labor’s decade of decline, police were left without the tools they needed to properly enforce the rules while illegal high-powered devices continued to spread,” she said.
Key recommendations from the committee include:
• introducing a minimum riding age of 16 with learner-style licensing requirements
• allowing police to test riders for alcohol or drugs
• new powers to seize and destroy illegal devices
• stronger penalties for tampering with e-mobility devices
• new offences for riding without due care around pedestrians and lower speed limits on footpaths
Ms Young said the Crisafulli Government would now carefully consider the recommendations.
“The Premier promised Queenslanders we would deliver nation-leading reforms after this issue exploded under the former Labor Government,” she said.
“We will now calmly and methodically consider each of the committee’s recommendations to ensure we deliver reforms that restore safety on our roads and footpaths.”
