Queensland mandates driver’s licence for solo e-bike and e-scooter riders aged 16 and up
From August 31, Queensland will require anyone riding an e-bike or e-scooter alone to be at least 16 years old and hold a driver’s licence, with exemptions possible for medical reasons.
Queensland’s latest e-mobility rules, starting August 31, require solo riders of e-bikes and e-scooters to be at least 16 and possess a driver’s licence, while children 12-17 may ride only under parental supervision. A three-month grace period until November 29 allows medically-disabled riders to seek exemptions, which must be signed off by a registered health practitioner. Police have already been granted powers to confiscate illegal devices, conduct random breath tests and fine parents of under-16 riders.
Rental companies such as Lime and Neuron must implement age and licence checks by March next year, using in-app declarations or licence verification. The government says the measures aim to improve safety by ensuring riders understand basic road rules, though health groups warn of added administrative burdens for people with disabilities.
Why it matters
The rule ties e-mobility use to driver licensing, affecting millions of riders and rental services across Queensland.
In this story
