Cycling body welcomes Queensland e-bike crackdown

3 weeks ago 4

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Queensland’s peak cycling lobby has welcomed a new government crackdown on illegal e-bikes following the recent deaths of two young boys in the state.

The Office of Fair Trading has contacted Queensland e-bike suppliers to warn them of their obligations to only sell compliant bikes – and the hefty penalties they could face if they failed.

Fines for misrepresentation under Australian consumer law were up to $2.5 million for individuals and $50 million for corporations.

Queensland is cracking down on illegal e-bikes.

In addition, the Queensland Police Service has launched Operation X-ray Surety to enforce e-bike compliance.

It was all music to the ears of new Bicycle Queensland chief executive Professor Matthew Burke.

“This is a good step towards protecting riders and parents from unknowingly buying unsafe products,” he said.

A 19-year-old was arrested in July after allegedly riding an illegal bike down Elizabeth Street in Brisbane.

“A whole industry had emerged of retailers whose main business model seemed to be selling illegal e-motorbikes to parents and kids.”

Last month, eight-year-old Zeke Hondow died on the Sunshine Coast following a head-on crash with a 15-year-old rider.

Two days later, on November 1, a 15-year-old boy died after crashing a Surron Ultra Bee electric dirt bike on Broadbeach Boulevard on the Gold Coast just after 3am. That bike retailed for about $10,000 and had a top speed of 95km/h.

To be used in public, e-bikes must be predominantly pedal-powered, with a small electric motor providing assistance only, up to 250 watts, and the motor must cut out at 25km/h.

Burke said the use of fair trading powers to crack down on illegal bikes was a key suggestion in Bicycle Queensland’s submission to the state’s parliamentary inquiry into e-mobility safety and use.

“We are pleased that the government has moved on this, but further action may well be needed to stop retailers selling illegal e-motorbikes ‘for use on private property only’, with a nod and a wink, knowing full well customers are buying them for use on-road and in public spaces,” he said.

On the policing front, South Brisbane District Inspector Mat Kelly said Operation X-ray Surety officers had caught too many people riding non-compliant devices.

“We urge riders, or parents who have already bought their child a device, to check whether it is compliant. Don’t just assume,” he said.

“Check where you can ride it. Some devices may only be permitted to be driven on private property not public spaces, such as council parks, footpaths or roads.

“It is the responsibility of riders and parents to know the rules surrounding these devices. Ignorance is not an excuse when public safety is put at risk.”

Burke said despite these developments, more needed to be done.

“We now look to the Commonwealth government to reintroduce appropriate import restrictions and ensure illegal e-motorbikes can’t so easily enter Australia,” he said.

“This will help cut the problem off at the source and stop the deaths we’re seeing in Queensland spreading interstate.”

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