What Queensland’s New E-Mobility Laws Mean for You (And How We’re Protecting Inclusive Cycling)

If you have been following the news, you likely know that the Queensland Government recently passed new e-mobility laws to help clean up our footpaths and crack down on illegal, overpowered devices.

While EveryBody eBikes fully supports making our communities safer, we and many of our riders have been worried about what these changes mean for their e-bikes and e-trikes. Because the legislation is rolling out in stages, here is a plain-English breakdown of what is in effect right now, what is coming next, and how we are actively working with the government to ensure you can ride and purchase with confidence.

What is in Effect Right Now (As of 1 July 2026) The first phase of the rollout focuses getting illegal, high-powered devices off our streets:

• New Speed Limits: A 12km/h speed limit now applies on footpaths and when passing pedestrians on shared paths.

• Strict Power Caps: Any device capable of exceeding 25km/h using the motor is prohibited. Police now have the power to seize and destroy these illegal devices.

• Rider Safety & Fines: Random breath testing and standard drink-riding limits (0.05 BAC) now apply to riders. There are also much higher penalties for speeding, careless riding, and not wearing a helmet.

• Parental Responsibility: Parents can now be fined if their children under 16 ride illegally, unless the rider is carrying a valid exemption on their person.

The Upcoming Licensing Rules (Starting 31 August 2026) Later this year, new rules will require riders of e-mobility devices to hold at least a learner’s permit. We know this caused immediate panic for many of our active seniors who have surrendered their licenses, and for riders with medical conditions who rely on e-trikes as an essential mobility lifeline.

The Good News: Exemption Pathways Are Coming The Queensland Government has heard our community's concerns. They recognize that people with disabilities, medical conditions, and younger riders with a disability should not be disproportionately impacted by these laws.

While the exact details are still being finalised for the end-of-August rollout, the government is creating clear exemption pathways for individuals who are "fit to safely operate an e-mobility device" but cannot hold a driver's license. This pathway is expected to cover adults with medical conditions, as well as children of all ages including under 12 who live with a disability. Supervision is required for some riders.

What about my E-Trike? (The "Special Purpose" Sticker) To help police easily identify safe, legal bikes from illegal mopeds, compliant devices will soon need to display a safety assurance sticker, which becomes mandatory by 28 February 2027.

Standard 2-wheel e-bikes may already have a compliance sticker. Older e-bikes or those imported before the legislation changed may be compliant but not have a sticker. These will need to be assessed and a “Legacy EPAC” sticker applied. The process for this and costs for the consumer has not been confirmed by the Queensland Govt but this is expected to be confirmed by end of August 2026.

But what about adaptive tricycles? The government is introducing a “Special Purpose EPAC” category specifically designed for adaptive devices with two or more wheels. This means your custom-modified trikes and adaptive bikes or trikes will have a clear, legal classification. Similar to the Legacy EPAC, these devices will need to be assessed and a Special Purpose EPAC sticker attached to the unit.

What You Need to Do Right Now Keep riding and enjoy the fresh air! The legislation is absolutely not intended to inhibit the safe use of e-mobility devices by people with disabilities or medical conditions. We are advocating closely on your behalf to ensure the rollout of these exemption pathways is seamless, fair and based on rider safety rather than exclusion.