It’s not just bike groups who are opposed to new e-bike restrictions. Councils and the RACQ are also worried about forcing users to ride “barely above walking pace”.

The Queensland government has introduced a bill to crack down on e-scooters and e-bikes but several councils have spoken out about age restrictions, licence rules and speed limits

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    • Zagorath@quokk.auOPEnglish
      81·
      2 months ago

      I think at this point they’re guaranteed not to go through with the worst provisions. The licence and speed limit rules are guaranteed to go, and the minimum age is very likely to go too.

      Unfortunately that leaves in the RBT for cyclists and the increased penalties for failure to wear a helmet, and the ability to force riders of legal ebikes or even regular bikes that police suspect might be ebikes, to stop and wait for police to inspect and check it’s legal. And the ability for them to seize it on mere suspicion of being noncompliant.

      But with Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast Council, and Noosa Shire Council, as well as the RACQ all united against the 10 km/h provisions and variously against either the minimum age or the licensing provisions (which themselves entail a minimum age), it’s basically a guarantee that those get dropped.

      Also: Vision Australia can get fucked. I have a cousin who has been totally blind since birth and have enormous respect for blind people. But Vision Australia suggesting the 10 km/h limit doesn’t go far enough shows that they have no fucking idea what they’re talking about and are arrogantly putting themselves ahead of millions of other Australians. They’re happy to take away others’ freedoms despite no actually evidence that there’s even a safety problem that needs to be addressed. Fuck them.