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Queensland – tough new licensing rules for e-bike riders

Kiama BUG

Police with e-bike riderQueensland has introduced new age and licensing requirements for e-bike and e-scooter riders, bringing some of the toughest e-mobility rules in Australia into effect.

From yesterday, August 31, riders need to be at least 16 and hold a driver’s licence to ride an e-bike or e-scooter alone. Young people aged 12 to 17 can still ride under parental supervision, while people unable to drive because of a medical condition or disability can apply for an exemption.

Exemptions also apply in certain areas such as national parks or on rail trails.

Failure to supply a driver’s licence could result in a $518 fine.
 
Read the full story at Bicycling Australia >>>

Wollongong Festival of Cycling

Kiama BUG

Wollongong headlandThe Ride Wollongong Festival of Cycling will be held from the 29th August to the 13th September, presenting a wide range of cycling events suitable for all cycling interests and abilities.

Kiama BUG is planning a regular Sunday ride to coincide with the Festival’s Family Fun Day on Sunday 13th September.

The Festival Fun Day will feature community and cycling exhibitors, entertainment, food, cycling workshops and a family-friendly atmosphere – immerse yourself in a celebration of healthy living, inclusivity and community spirit.

Check KBUG Ridewatch in the week leading up to the Family Fun Day for details of the KBUG ride starting point, along with other organisational info.

In the meantime, learn more about the Festival of Cycling:

Ride Wollongong – Festival of Cycling 2026 >>>

Big Bike Film Night

Kiama BUG, Special events

Big bike film nightThe Big Bike Film Night is returning to Wollongong.

  • When:Tuesday 11th August @ 7:00 pm
  • Where: Gala Cinema Warrawong

The 2026 collection is geared to inspire, with a breathtaking range of short cycling films that celebrate the fun, adventure, and inspiration that cycling enables; showcasing 2.5 hours of moving bike films that has everything a cycle-centric audience could want.

Thanks to prize sponsors, presenting partner Ng? Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand, attendees will be in the draw to win a  5-day, all-inclusive Great Rides cycling holiday to New Zealand! Five days cycling the best trails across New Zealand’s South Island, starting and finishing in Queenstown. 

Simply buy a ticket to attend a Big Bike Film Night Australian screening and complete an entry form. (Flights included).

More info: Big Bike Film Night website >>>

Watch the Trailer….

More on e-Bike changes

regulation, , ,

Fat Bike with pedestriansWhile new federal legislation is being introduced in regard to the importation and sale of e-Bikes, each state appears to be applying their own interpretation and implementation of the federal regulations.

This ABC article discusses some of the likely outcomes in NSW….

European safety and performance standards have been introduced from March for new e-bikes, following in the footsteps of WA.

An e-bike marked as “EN 15194” now meets the manufacturing requirements to keep it acting like a bicycle rather than a motorbike.

It means e-bikes must have a maximum power output of 250 watts, and pedal assistance has to cut out at 25km/h.

Additionally, no assistance will be provided if the rider is not pedalling at 6km/h or more.

The government says the standard also includes battery, electrical, and fire-safety requirements, as well as anti-tampering protections to prevent alteration of power or speed limits.

Read the full story at the ABC >>>

New eBike Laws – What’s Changing

cycling, Kiama BUG, Planning, regulation, , ,

eBike commuterFederal and state governments are consolidating their plans around new rules for e-bikes.

Following the decision in 2025 to reintroduce the European standard for e-bikes on Australian roads, the Commonwealth has now amended the import rules for e-bikes by re-inserting EN15194:2017 into the definition of an e-bike in the Australian Design Rules.

The Department of Transport and Border Security uses this definition to decide if a product is an e-bike that can be imported into Australia.

Such an e-bike must meet all the requirements of EN15194:2017 including having a maximum continuous power of 250 watts, a maximum assisted speed of 25km/h, and a maximum throttled-controlled walk-mode speed of 6km/h.

Significantly, the standard now also contains an anti-tampering provision to prevent the power and speed limitations being altered by sellers or owners.

A retailer manufacturer or retailer cannot provide a code, controller setting, device app, mechanical device, throttle in a box or any other functionality for consumer modification.

From our local state perspective, NSW e-bike laws are changing in stages between 2026 and 2029, to become aligned with the national regulations.

New e-bikes sold in NSW must now be marked to show whether they meet the EN 15194 standard or not.

From March 2029, e-bikes that aren’t certified to EN 15194 will no longer be legal to ride on roads, cycleways, shared paths or other public areas in NSW.

The links below provide information about what has changed at a national level, and how these new regulations are being applied in NSW…

 

The Long Road to Bike-friendly Australia

cycling, Health, Planning, , ,

Cyclists in the cityState governments and local councils have a strategy to increase participation in walking and cycling activities – referred to by planners as “active transport”. Doing so would improve citizens’ health and air quality, reduce emissions and traffic congestion, and increase accessibility and liveability, the strategies say.

Yet cycling participation rates remain relatively stagnant in Australia, barely shifting in the past decade. Some experts argue cycling has more scope to grow than walking because of the amount of short daily trips many people take within cycling distance of their house or as part of shared trips with public transport. While there are recent reports of surging e-bike sales as fuel prices soar, it seems that a widespread bike riding culture remains elusive.

Read the full story at the ABC >>>

Cyclists’ injuries at record high, riders blame aggressive motorists

cycling, Health, regulation, Safety

Safe passing signA record number of NSW cyclists – 2330 – were taken to hospital in 2021, the most since complete hospital records began to be collected in 2005.

Cyclist David Page has experienced at least 12 serious incidents of dangerous driving and abuse from motorists while on the road in Sydney.

“If you want to kill someone, do it with a car because you will always get off,” said Page, a doctor who lives near Turramurra.

Bike riders now represent about one in four (23 per cent) of road crash hospitalisations, and are the only road user group to report increasing injury numbers recently.

From 2005 to 2021, 173 bicyclists were killed and 29,464 were seriously injured on the state’s roads. However, many of these injuries were not reported to police and did not involve another vehicle, Transport for NSW said.

In the 12 months to the end of January 2023, 20 fines were issued to drivers in NSW for breaking the minimum passing distance rule, but none in the Christmas holiday period of December and January despite several statewide traffic blitzes.

In comparison, since 2016, cyclists have received about 55,000 fines for a range of offences, mostly for not wearing a helmet or not having it correctly fastened (31,402 penalties), riding on the footpath (5645 fines), riding at night without a light (5678) and not having a working bell (2476). There have also been 207 fines for “not ride on far-left side of road”.

Read more (SMH) >>>

‘Vigilantes’ target cyclists on new Rail Trail

Kiama BUG

Nails on Rail TrailThe first section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, which opened on the 1st March, has apparently been targeted by people who aren’t so keen on the new trail.

The local council said the trail had drawn more than 8000 users in its first two weeks, prompting local businesses along the trail to extend their opening hours and offerings to cater for demand.

But councillor and Chamber of Commerce chairman Warren Polglase said someone was trying to spoil the party and had thrown tacks and nails on to the trail three times since it opened, puncturing tyres.

Polglase said some Tweed residents had opposed the project because they wanted to save the track and return it to the provision of rail services. Passenger trains stopped running in 2004.

Read more (SMH) >>>

Northern Rivers Rail Trail is open

Kiama BUG

Northern Rivers Rail TrailKiama BUG travellers now haver another rail trail to explore – the scenic Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, in northern New South Wales, opened on 1st March 2023.

Extending through 24 kilometres of countryside in the lush Tweed valley, the Tweed trail connects via the townships and villages of Crabbes Creek, Mooball, Burringbar, Stokers Siding, Dunbible and Murwillumbah, all once key train station stops along the original railway line, built in 1894.

The Tweed trail is the first section of the full 132 kilometre Northern Rivers Rail Trail to open and welcomes walkers, runners and cyclists to breathe in nature, explore country towns and immerse in the region’s rich agri-tourism offerings, from farm-gates to foodie hot spots.

Read More >>>

Thursday’s scheduled ride has changed

Kiama BUG

Macquarie Pass closedAttention all those keen cyclists who were planning to travel to Bowral for the ride to Berrima and Moss Vale on this Thursday (2nd March)…..

Due to roadworks, Macquarie Pass will be closed from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Thursday. OK for us to travel up to Bowral in the morning, not so easy to return in the afternoon – until after 3:00 pm!

Consequently the Thursday ride has been re-organised to commence at Port Kembla Pool, riding to Thirroul (8:00 am start)

More details on Ridewatch >>>