Queensland Inquiry Recommends Licensing for E-Bike and E-Scooter Riders Under 16

A Queensland parliamentary inquiry is set to recommend that children under the age of 16 be prohibited from riding e-bikes and e-scooters, requiring them to obtain a driver’s license to use such devices. This recommendation follows heightened concerns regarding safety, particularly after a tragic incident involving an eight-year-old boy who died in an e-bike crash on the Sunshine Coast in October 2025. The inquiry, which is dominated by the Liberal National Party (LNP), is expected to finalize its report this week, ahead of schedule.

The Guardian

The inquiry's recommendations include raising the minimum age for riders to 16, as advocated by the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland and the Australian Medical Association’s Queensland branch (AMAQ). Additionally, riders would need to hold at least a car learner's license, which entails passing an online exam on road rules. The inquiry has garnered significant public attention, receiving 1,223 submissions and conducting 17 hearings.

The Guardian

The push for stricter regulations comes amid rising injuries and fatalities associated with e-mobility devices. The Queensland government has already implemented a ban on e-bikes with motors exceeding 250 watts or those that assist riders beyond a speed of 25 km/h. In parallel, the New South Wales government is also considering a minimum age requirement for e-bike riders, reflecting a broader trend among Australian states to address safety concerns.

The Guardian

The AMAQ has expressed frustration over the increasing strain on public health services due to e-mobility-related injuries. According to AMAQ president Dr. Nick Yim, Queensland accounts for half of all e-scooter fatalities in Australia. A study cited by the AMAQ reported 176 pediatric e-scooter trauma cases at the Sunshine Coast university hospital over two years.

The Guardian

Despite these concerns, data from the Department of Transport and Main Roads indicates that personal mobility devices, including e-scooters, have the lowest fatality rates compared to other vehicles. In 2025, Queensland recorded 307 road fatalities, with only eight involving personal mobility devices.

The Guardian

Critics of the inquiry's recommendations, such as Bicycle Queensland’s director of advocacy Andrew Demack, argue that the proposed licensing requirement is poorly conceived. Demack contends that legal e-bikes provide significant benefits to teenagers and that the real danger on the roads comes from motor vehicles, not e-bikes. He emphasizes the need for a more nuanced approach to e-mobility safety rather than blanket restrictions.

The Guardian

The Queensland government has three months to respond to the inquiry's recommendations once they are released. As discussions continue, the balance between promoting safe e-mobility practices and ensuring accessibility for young riders remains a contentious issue.

The Guardian

• “half of all e-scooter fatalities in Australia occurred in Queensland” — Dr. Nick Yim, AMAQ President

The Guardian

• “We haven’t thought this through at all, and there are so many gaping holes in it.” — Andrew Demack, Bicycle Queensland Director of Advocacy

The Guardian

• “There’s no doubt that the most dangerous device on our roads are people in motor vehicles,” — Andrew Demack, Bicycle Queensland Director of Advocacy

The Guardian