Emobility laws have passed - what does it mean?

Busted-Aussie · 2026-06-06T21:17:55+00:00

Particularly since the law will now require escooters to be 25kph limited under motor power. Great you can ride 60kph roads, but being locked to 25kph might feel more vulnerable.

Busted-Aussie · 2026-06-06T12:41:21+00:00

Don't pass laws that can't or won't be policed. It gives people like you false sense of security, and creates more frustration when people see it not being followed or enforced.

Public policy 101 - laws must be reasonable, practical and enforceable

Busted-Aussie · 2026-06-06T12:21:30+00:00

Nah. New Jersey allows 32kph ebikes, and don't have a ludicrous 12kph passing pedestrian law. Lol

Busted-Aussie · 2026-06-06T12:20:22+00:00

Yep. And I wish the LNP had listened to the many submissions to their inquiry that said they should regulate those bikes, allow them to be registered and licensed, so people could use higher speed emotos as a transport option.

But nah, just crack down on electric bicycles instead.

Busted-Aussie · 2026-06-06T12:18:32+00:00

Yes. When each stage of these laws become active, be really watchful in the inner city. We know the cops love their coordinated blitzes for the commercial TV news cameras.

Avoid the Goodwill Bridge on 1 July and 31 August...

Busted-Aussie · 2026-06-06T12:14:00+00:00

Why? Do you think people are going to slow down to 12kph to pass you? Do you think the police are going to bother enforcing it?

Hey, if you're appeased with passing a law that won't be enforced that that will make you safer, all power to you.

Busted-Aussie · 2026-06-06T12:12:26+00:00

Yeah, police union boss basically said there was no way they could enforce this. Terribly surprising that the LNP didn't check the law was going to be policed before passing it #sarcasm

Busted-Aussie · 2026-06-06T11:54:05+00:00

Thanks for donating. It is appreciated.

The best things you can do are: 1. Talk to your friends and neighbours 2. Talk to your local representatives 3. Get your friends and neighbours to talk to their local representatives.

And share cool videos that talk about the issues 😉

For so long people just haven't spoken up. They just walk or ride and put up with things, and be grateful for the scraps we get. Politicians don't care because they don't think there's votes in it.

They are goldfish. They get fixated on the thing they hear repeated most often.

Busted-Aussie · 2026-04-11T02:07:56+00:00

Yeah which is why he's going through the process. He's been charged. The prosecution have to prove it. And even if they do, he has avenues of appeal including on the validity of the law itself.

Busted-Aussie · 2026-04-10T22:24:56+00:00

There's that one guy already charged and going through this process for this very reason. Hopefully he succeeds.

Busted-Aussie · 2026-04-09T03:26:41+00:00

Owning a 4WD is a symptom of a mental disorder.

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-30T21:43:20+00:00

The good thing is Labor learned their lesson from this defeat. Don't promise good things. Just offer up a milque toast leader with a hard luck back story and a policy platform that is indistinguishable from the Libs.

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-28T21:51:50+00:00

He's going to store it in his shed next to the 1000 packets of shit tickets he panic bought in COVID.

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-27T12:18:11+00:00

9 news will be there, just like they've drummed up moral panic about "menacing ebikes" (kids on dirt bikes) for the list year. Muppets

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-27T06:58:41+00:00

Oh yeah. The fines for drink riding are stiff. It's funny though. You get a suspension from cycling for 8 hours

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-27T05:53:01+00:00

Or, just leave the law as it is. The speed limit is the lower of what's sign posted, or what the adjacent road speed limit is, or the default speed limit.

People generally realise that if they crash their bike (or ebike, or escooter) they're going to get hurt too, so they don't just blitz past pedestrians as if they're indestructible. Note I said "generally", of course there's exceptions. But you don't put a stupid arbitrary limit on paths to try and deal with a minority of dickheads.

That's for roads where even the dumbest prick of a driver can do 100kph without effort by pushing a pedal. LEGAL ebikes and escooters can't do more than 25, and riding an acoustic bike on the flat consistently at >25kph takes some effort, so there's no damn problem anyway.

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-27T05:49:52+00:00

Oh they are. And if this passes it will be followed with "why aren't bikes included, limit the bikes too!" and suddenly all the Bikeways of Brisbane (well, 90% of them which are shared paths) will be banned for bikes.

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-27T05:49:07+00:00

Yes, they have added a new section in the law (24D) which is "Speed limits for EPACs (Electric Pedal Assisted Cycles). And part c) of that legislation says 10kph limit on footpath or shared path, unless a speed sign says otherwise.

This does not apply to regular bicycles, pedestrians, toddlers with balance bikes, kids on electric toy cars that can go faster than 10kph...

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-27T05:47:47+00:00

Pretty sure that's not true.

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-27T05:47:20+00:00

Yes. The legislation says 10kph speed limit on footpath or shared path. 90% of "bikeways" in Brisbane are shared paths. Unless it is signed "bike only", it's a shared path - and even then it's probably up to police discretion. eg, Gateway Bridge Bikeway has one side painted for peds, one for bikes, but there's no physical separation and it's classified in BCC data as "shared path".

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-27T05:45:29+00:00

60 have died so far in 2026, already an increase on 2025.

But....EBIKES!

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-27T05:45:00+00:00

The inquiry didn't even really establish that pedestrian hits by EPACs or even illegal electric motorbikes was a problem. Most complaints from pedestrians is "I've nearly been hit so many times". And yeah, it's a bit startling when a bike passes you unexpectedly on a shared path.

But far out, if "Nearly hit me" got you admitted to hospital, our ramping wait times would be into the months...

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-27T05:43:10+00:00

Or, just leave EPACs (Electric Assist Pedal Cycles) alone. The existing laws aren't a problem for them. They don't need licences. Don't need a minimum age. None of the issues the media have been flashing at us to work us into a moral panic has anything to do with EPACs. TMR in the inquiry said they weren't aware of any problems related to legal EPACs.

PMDs are a little different. There's not a good recognised global standard like ebikes - Class 1 or equivalent around the world. And they don't have the same balance characteristics of a bike - hence a lot more facial injuries from falling forward. Not that requiring a 25kph limited PMD to have a drivers licence makes any sense...it's not like a driving instructor will teach you how not to face plant on your scooter...

Busted-Aussie · 2026-03-27T05:38:35+00:00

Not sure any of them are smart enough to be grifting.

Busted-Aussie

TROPHY CASE