<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/15/vicious-cycles-or-transport-revolution-the-ebike-battle-raging-in-queensland>
"Paula Sharam had a nightmare last week: a thief stole her ebike.
“I was telling my granddaughter and she said: ‘You love that bike more than
us!’,” she says.
Sharam laughs, but then, in earnest, says that her two-person, fat-tyred ebike
has changed her life. She picks up her grandkids with it. Loads it up with
groceries for the shopping run. Commutes to the fashion shop she runs.
These days, Sharam says she only really takes her SUV out every few weeks, when
she has to pop into Brisbane, about 65km south of her Bribie Island home.
“On the island, I don’t use my car,” she says. “I just use my bike.”
Sharam’s bad dream occurred on the eve of the Queensland government’s passing
of what it described as a nation-leading “crackdown” on “dangerous e-scooter
and e-bike behaviours”. As it turned out, her worst fears weren’t realised.
She has a driving licence. Her bike has a maximum unassisted speed of 25km/h
and is compliant with European product safety standards. All of these are among
the requirements for ebike riders under the new laws.
At 70, she is comfortably above the 12–17 age bracket at which e-mobility will
now require parental supervision. And Sharam says she already complies with the
new 12km/h speed limit near pedestrians.
“I avoid people on the footpath like the plague,” she says. “It’s common
sense.”
But Sharam is concerned the added regulation and “demonisation” of ebikes will
preclude or discourage others from enjoying their benefits.
Which makes her among the more measured critics of laws that have come under
blistering attack from all sides."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
