Up to 50 youths riding e-devices descend upon city after Miami ‘ride out’ circulates on social media

Dozens of young e-device riders have potentially opened themselves up to charges of dangerous operation after a ‘ride out’ beginning at Miami saw numerous unsafe behaviours on city streets, police say.

Gold Coast police say dozens of young e-motorbike, e-bike and other e-mobility riders have potentially opened themselves up to charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle and seizure of their devices after up to 50 people participated in a ‘ride out’ advertised on social media.

The joy ride kicked off at Miami’s Pizzey Park midmorning on Thursday, before the massed riders then dispersed throughout the city.

Gold Coast Police Superintendent Brett Jackson told reporters on Thursday afternoon it was “very disappointing” to see the large number of youths gather in such a way.

“We estimate there were about 50 youths on various iterations of devices,” he said.

Up to 50 young riders of e-devices descended upon the Gold Coast on the morning of April 17, 2025, after a 'ride out' commencing at Miami's Pizzey Park was advertised on social media. Picture: 10 News First

But while social media allowed thrillseekers to join the party, it could also prove to be their downfall, as it allowed police to divert Highway Patrol and other officers to monitor the situation, and pre-deploy “covert surveillance methodologies”, which, alongside dashcam and council CCTV, captured a variety of unsafe behaviours.

Superintendent Jackson said, as a result, numerous participants in the ‘ride out’ had opened themselves up to charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle for behaviours such as wheelies and speeding.

The evidence collected thus far “entitles us to investigate” the matter under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, Superintendent Jackson said, foreshadowing the possibility of the execution of search warrants and seizure of evidence – namely, the e-bikes and e-mobility devices themselves.

Up to 50 young riders of e-devices descended upon the Gold Coast on the morning of April 17, 2025, after a 'ride out' commencing at Miami's Pizzey Park was advertised on social media. Picture: 10 News First

“It’s something we will not allow to continue,” he said.

Superintendent Jackson added that numerous devices involved in the rally would have been unregistered and uninsured (whether an e-mobility device needs to be registered depends on its technical specifications), and their “riders were no doubt unlicensed”.

No charges have been laid at this stage.

Addressing the incident, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said “the technology got away from us” and called for laws around e-devices to be strengthened.

“There are two things we should do – strengthen our laws and get ahead of the technology so we can jam the e-bikes or reduce their maximum speed,” he said.

“If there is a gathering if kids at Pizzey Park, we should be able to shut them down to just 5km/h... [it] would not be a bad idea.”

Separately to the action at Pizzey Park and surrounds, Superintendent Jackson revealed that Surfers Paradise Police were currently engaged in an e-bike trial themselves, with officers trading in their mountain bikes, which they use in busy, built-up areas.

Surfers Paradise Police trialling e-bikes to replace QPS mountain bikes take up with a pair at The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise. Picture: Alex Treacy

“E-bikes allow us to achieve greater range, to set the standard for safety for using these devices, and gives us the ability to intercept tourists and locals using these devices,” he said.

Superintendent Jackson urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads this Easter, warning that roadside breath tests would be in place especially on the city’s arterial roads.

Originally published as Up to 50 youths riding e-devices descend upon city after Miami ‘ride out’ circulates on social media