Police investigate youth e-bike stunts on Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast residents fear someone will be killed or seriously injured as brazen youths run rampant with dangerous, illegal e-bike stunts on busy roads. VIDEO, DETAILS.

Local fears someone will be killed or seriously injured as brazen youths run rampant with dangerous, illegal e-bike stunts on busy roads.

Sunshine Coast Police are investigating a number of e-bike and e-scooter incidents on roads at Coolum Beach, Sunshine Beach, and Sunrise Beach.

Videos have surfaced online of the outrageously dangerous stunts being performed by youths in traffic – with little to no regard for their safety or the safety of others.

The videos show youths on e-bikes riding dangerously towards oncoming traffic in a crazy game of chicken.

Their friends are filming the stunts.

One video even shows police chasing the youths.

Elliott Schaefer said it was ‘out of control’ on social media.

Screenshot of youths on e-bikes in traffic. Picture – social media.

“Getting out of control I literally throw them (e-bikes and e-scooters) out of my workplace every single day as these low breeds park them in our airlock, time for lawmakers to step in and clamp down on this nonsense,” he said.

Tina Andersen said it was only a matter of time before someone was hurt.

“One of them is going to end up severely hurt and it will be traumatising for the oncoming driver,” she said.

Charmaine Cameron said she saw it regularly.

“Yes this happens to me regularly near my house in Coolum,” she said.

“I have to literally stop as they are coming straight for me.

“It will be too late one day and someone will get hurt.”

“Happens regularly along David Low Way between Coolum High and Stumers Creek. Especially at school finishing time,” Mark Us said.

Faye Healey Borleis said it was a new social media trend among youths.

“I think it's a new trend this happened to my friend in Noosa,” she said.

“Extremely dangerous … it's only a matter of time before one of these kids gets killed then the poor person who hits them will have to live with it for the rest of their lives.”

“It’s a sad reality that one of these kids is probably going to have to die for it to be a wake up call to their friend group,” Liv Kimberley said.

Screenshot of police chasing youths on e-bikes. Picture – social media.

Emma Madsen said she felt ‘sad for these kids’.

“They obviously don’t have parents that care enough for their wellbeing. Tragedy waiting to happen,” she said.

“I really hope it doesn’t happen but it’s a ticking time bomb.”

Gillian Clayton said she tried to talk to the youths.

“I stopped and mentioned to them that they are dangerously going to get hurt or be killed,” she said.

“All I got in return is foul and abusive language back.

“It seems that they are beyond the law.”

Screenshot of youths on e-bikes. Picture – social media.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman said police were aware of the youth’s ongoing behaviour.

“Sunshine Coast police have launched Operation Coolum Take Down in response to several traffic and public nuisance incidents on electric motorcycles, bicycles and personal mobility devices (PMD) within Coolum Beach recently,” she said.

“A high-visibility police presence has been deployed in the area, with officers conducting mobile and foot patrols to target anti-social behaviour and strengthen community safety.”

Originally published as Police investigate youth e-bike stunts on Sunshine Coast