Police crack down on e-bike users at Palm Beach Currumbin State High School
As e-bikes continue to grow in popularity on the Gold Coast, one teenager says users who speed and don’t follow the road rules are ruining it for those riding safely, as police continue their crackdown on the devices.
As e-bikes continue to grow in popularity on the Gold Coast, one teenager says users who speed and don’t follow the road rules are ruining it for those riding safely, as police continue their crackdown on the devices.
Palm Beach Currumbin State High School has seen a significant spike in e-bike usage, from zero to more than 300 in just four years.
While most were riding compliant e-bikes and following the road rules, executive principal Chris Capra said some were not.
“Not all students are 100 per cent compliant with the road rules as you’d expect with teenagers as they are still developing their sense of road awareness,” he said.
“These devices are fantastic and are getting children to part time jobs, accessing sport and taking pressure off the family home.
“It’s the freedom that it’s enabling teenagers which is why they are so popular.”
Year 9 student Matilda Burger got her first e-bike about three years ago.
The 14-year-old said it had given her a sense of freedom and independence as she was able to go to school and tennis training without relying on her parents.
“Now I have the ability to go to different places without my parents having to drive me as I get a bit older,” she said.
Matilda said most of her friends either had an e-bike or were planning to ask their parents for one for Christmas.
She said she was worried about a rise in e-bike crashes on the Gold Coast and had even been in a minor accident herself while she was riding about 15km/h.
“The people who are going too fast are ruining it for people like me who follow the rules and don’t go above 25km/h and don’t use the throttle,” she said.
“They are good if you follow the rules.
“People who aren’t following the rules are ruining it for them and there will be crashes more often.”
Leading Senior Constable Kurt Foesell said there had been “too many” e-bike crashes on the Gold Coast this year.
“My concern is that between Christmas and the beginning of the first term, there will be a significant number of these on the roads and potentially some more injuries and even fatalities.”
As part of Operation X-ray Surety, police are continuing to educate and engage with those using e-mobility devices and enforce the rules.
Constable Foesell said there had been a significant increase in helmet compliance at the school since the operation began.
“Most of the students have been receptive and helmet compliance is up significantly, which is a good trend to see,” he said.
About 4000 infringement notices have been issued for e-devices across the state by Queensland Police and 60 per cent of those were for not wearing a helmet.
It comes after the federal government announced it would reinstate the European standard, EN-15194, for imported e-bikes by the end of the year.
This means an e-bike must have a motor that cuts off at 25 km/h, a 250-watt limit on motor power and be pedalled to receive assistance from the motor, rather than relying on a throttle.
The standard was removed in 2021 and industry experts said this led to non-compliant e-bikes flooding the market.
A national regulatory framework for e-mobility devices will also be developed to create clear and consistent rules.
The move was welcomed by cycling advocacy group We Ride Australia.
“E-bikes are fantastic for transport, for fitness and for fun and this announcement will mean that more riders can be confident their bikes are safe and legal,” executive officer Peter Bourke said.
The Bulletin has launched a series highlighting the shocking dangers of e-mobility devices, and calling for urgent action from state and federal governments.
Do you ride an e-bike? We’d like to hear from you.
Contact chelsea.bunting@news.com.au
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Originally published as Police crack down on e-bike users at Palm Beach Currumbin State High School
