this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2026
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Fuck Cars

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193
‘Car brain’: Queensland government criticised for proposed age, speed and licence limits on ebikes (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 2 days ago by hanrahan@slrpnk.net to c/fuckcars@lemmy.world
33 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

**Legislation may limit transport options for people who cannot drive and discourage those seeking relief from the fuel crisis **

For Maggie, 12, her modified ebike is her ticket to the world. The Rockhampton girl, who has a form of dwarfism, is unable to push a non-powered bike, walk long distances or carry around heavy books or shopping.

“It gives her the possibility of keeping up with her peers,” said her mother, Krysten Thompson adding Maggie may one day even use it to travel to school if bike paths improved.

But Andrea Herklots from EveryBody eBikes said she’s worried a proposed crackdown on e-mobility – including a requirement that riders be “medically fit to drive” a car – would lock many out of transport access.

The Brisbane shop produces modified e-vehicles for people with disabilities throughout Australia and in the US and Canada.

The fuck is wrong with voter electing these guys (as an ex Queenslander).

My anecdote, I came across a lady with an escooter down near the beach at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast, she suffered epilepsy but hadn't had any issues for many years. She said she couldn't drive a car but the escoot was awesome (I was on mine and we got talking)... I guess fuck her as well ?

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[–] TarnFan@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

There is no good reason to do this. Not everyone can drive, and some people just shouldn't drive, even if they technically can.

Less cars on the road is better for everyone.

On top of that, Australia doesn't want teens on social media but they want to take away their limited options for mobility? What are those teenagers supposed to do then? Drugs???

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago

Homework.

No, skip that, don't want people getting too smart, watch Conservative Propaganda, instead.

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 24 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Beyond stupid, straight up backsliding a useful, accessible mobility form to appear strict on teens. The law as it stood had anything powered at more than 25 km/h or greater than 500W power illegal (arguably already overly restrictive, I can see a case for 30-35 km/h). All that was needed was to enforce it, which was happening, if sporadically. But nooo, car brain go brrrr. Not to give them ideas, but analogue bikes are allowed on roads without license or medical check, what difference is a motor at that speed ?

Rutting LibNats in QLD just can't help fucking shit up since Jo, hopefully back to Siberia for the next decade yet again next election.

[–] liuther9@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

25 is too low. My speed on regular bike is 30 when I am in mood or 40 if in hurry

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 day ago

Yeah, but it's this way in Australia and most (all?) of Europe where it came from. Nothing stopping you piling on the watts yourself to go faster, or downhill, but no power after 25.

[–] ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

You're comparing the maximum speed of pushbikes with the minimum speed of ebikes.

[–] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

We need to stop discriminating against teens. First Australia bans them from the internet, then bans then from getting around outside by themselves. The malicious intent is undenyable

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

But they can't vote and persecuting them appeals to the LN core demographic of miserable bastards. /s-ish.

Also look at the world we're handing them, JFC, give 'em a break.

[–] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I don't understand what the deal is with those miserable people

[–] Croquette@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago

It's often used as an in for more invasive legislation in the futur.

In the name of the kids and/or security, politicians implement the framework needed to further control the population and profit from it.

[–] ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

The limit was 250w in Qld.

[–] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 28 points 2 days ago (3 children)

We.should recgonize ebike restrictions as baltent attempts to limit certain peoples mobility

[–] real_squids@sopuli.xyz 24 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I see most of these attempts to limit/regulate e-bikes as another classic case of "let's make it worse for everybody because a few people can't behave", but this is a new low, wow.

[–] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

And those "a few people" are mostly motorists who hit cyclists

[–] real_squids@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 day ago

I was thinking more of your typical irresponsible users, anecdotal evidence I know, but most red light runners I see are e-bikers. Very easy to point at them as a "reasonable" basis for laws like that

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 2 points 2 days ago (2 children)

attempts to limit certain peoples mobility

why would law makers want to limit certain peoples mobility ?

[–] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Discrimination against young people. They can't use social media either, nor can thru get around on am ebike. Make it make sense without coming to the obvious conclusion that society just hates them

[–] fizzle@quokk.au -1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Young people also can't drink, can't drive, and are belong to the special class of "minors" according to the law. Is all of this discrimination against young people also ?

[–] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The fact that they can't drive is highly relevant here. Their other options are being taken away. Why?

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 1 points 1 day ago

Why?

Well thats my original question.

The comment I replied to claims that its discrimination against young people, and i am asking why lawmakers would do that?

The law in general identifies a range of things that young people should not be empowered to participate in.

It could only be "discrimination" if there were no reason for the law other than to disadvantage those young people.

The law is poorly considered, but its not discrimination.

[–] resipsaloquitur@lemmy.world -1 points 1 day ago

Don’t bother asking reasonable questions.

People really, really want to kill themselves on e-bikes.

[–] ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world -1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

"I'm too wasted to use a pushbike so I should have an electric motorcycle" isn't the strong argument you think it is.

[–] theroff@aussie.zone 2 points 1 day ago

What about riding distances further than one would be capable or willing to ride without a motor?

Many people wouldn't be interested in riding, say, 10-15km each direction especially in a hilly area, but a motor could be a game changer.

The idea that you're not tough enough if you don't pushbike it is just ignorance and ironically more likely to push people into driving or other modes of transport.

[–] manuallybreathing@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

It's already illegal to ride a bike while intoxicated, you can loose your drivers permit on a pushbike

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 16 points 2 days ago

“It’s going to restrict safe, legal ebiking in a way we think is pretty unfair and pretty dumb, at a time when we really should be encouraging everyone to get on a bike as a response to the fuel crisis,” he said.

Basically this.

The existing laws are inadequate and I do think they need to be overhauled.

However, there seem to be multiple points of stupidity in this case.

[–] manuallybreathing@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

E bikes should be regulated, those things are heavy and people fly down the bike path effortlessly, faster than I can when i really push myself on a regular bicycle

but obviously anything a colonial government will do will be totally backwards and only end up harming people

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

To quote @supakaity in a conversation we just had "Thank fuck we're getting out of here"

[–] Deceptichum@quokk.au 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yes flee QLD, come to Vic!

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Close. Uruguay :P

[–] Deceptichum@quokk.au 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Wow, big move. Looking up Uruguay, it seems interesting.

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I've half heartedly been planning a move to Argentina for years now, but Argentina is currently not really a viable option. So as we're getting closer to it being real rather than just vague plans, we started looking for other options. And Uruguay is a pretty good alternative. And it's right next door to Argentina :)

[–] Deceptichum@quokk.au 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That’s fair, seems to be a pretty inclusive culture from the 10 minutes I researched it. Do you speak Spanish?

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

At about a B1 level. And I specifically speak that variety of Spanish (rioplatense)

I've previously lived (short term) in Buenos Aires for a few months as well