It seems that my nightmares are coming true. As at the writing of this update to my previous article on the Queensland E-Mobility Inquiry, it is not yet substantiated but a leaked piece of information suggests that the E-Mobility Inquiry may recommend that all e-mobility devices (yes, including the currently legal, EN15194 e-bikes and e-scooters limited to 25km/h) would require a driver’s licence or learners permit. It may also recommend that nobody under the age of 16 can ride an e-mobility device across the board. So, if you more or less substitute where I have written “registration” with “licensing” in the previous article, you’ll get an idea of what the supposed recommendation is.

Effectively, what this would mean is that young people who have gained independence through the use of, say, a cheap little Ninebot scooter or legal pedal assisted e-bike (ie one with no throttle) will lose their independence. It would mean that an older person who cannot or does not want to drive anymore and has relinquished their licence cannot use their complaint e-bike or e-trike to pick up groceries. There would be other scenarios.

Once the Inquiry hands down its recommendation, the government has three months to respond so there is time to, say, contact your local MP and voice your concerns if you feel so inclined (I managed to say that very politely and calmly, didn’t I).

Also, it’s worth highlighting that, as mentioned in the linked Brisbane Times article above, the only other jurisdiction in the world that has licensing requirement for bicycles is North Korea. Think about that for a moment.

Now would be a really good time to object to this lazy, ill-considered, apathetic and possibly malicious proposition before it becomes law. It’d be really hard to wind back and could serve as the thin end of the wedge to destroy active transport even more.

As I said previously, I’m 100% behind getting rid of the illegal, dangerous e-devices but this is not the way to do it.