Sophie Tobin-Webb has been forced to get her learner's licence to continue riding her e-bike, as Queensland becomes one of the only places in the world with such a mandate.
From August 31, riders will need to be at least 16 and hold a driver's licence to ride an e-bike or e-scooter solo in Queensland as the new stage of the state's laws cracking down on e-devices rolls out.
Children aged between 12 and 17, without a learner's licence, will be able to ride under parental supervision after the government watered down its initial proposal of a blanket ban on under 16s.
Since July, police have had the power to seize and destroy illegal devices, randomly breath test riders and to fine parents when children under 16 are found to be riding illegally.
Devices faster than 25km/h have been banned and riders have been limited to riding at 12km/h on footpaths, while fines for a range of offences have increased.
Over three years, Ms Tobin-Webb has clocked up 5,000 kilometres on her e-bike across Brisbane, with its pedal assistance giving her "a little bit of oomph".
"I use it basically every day to get to work, drop the kids off at kindy, for groceries and general outings," she said.
"For me, I have never needed a licence. I have relied on public transport, my bike or walking.
"I thought about going back to my analogue, so my non-e-bike, but getting two kids around on that in Brisbane's humidity is pretty challenging."
While Ms Tobin-Webb had to fork out $80 and complete an online test for her learner's licence, she understands it will not be as simple for others.
'Reluctance' among health professionals
Those who are unable to drive due to a medical condition or disability will be eligible to apply for an exemption, with a three-month grace period until November 29 to allow riders to comply.
The legislation introduced to parliament was amended to include the exemption after community backlash to the initial proposal.
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated chief executive Matilda Alexander said while the move was welcome, she was concerned people with disability "already have to grapple with the administrative burden of accessing multiple schemes and exemptions just to live an ordinary life".
To be granted an exemption, a rider is required to complete a form, which needs to be signed off by a registered health practitioner who can verify they appear capable of safely operating their e-mobility device.
A doctor may put conditions on a person's e-mobility use, for example requiring they be supervised or only ride during the day.
Australian Medical Association Queensland (AMAQ) President Associate Professor Erica Gannon said the peak body had never called for, nor supported, the licensing requirement, with protecting the safety of children its primary concern.
A 13-year-old boy died in hospital on Saturday after sustaining critical injuries in an e-scooter crash in the Bundaberg region on Wednesday.
The crash prompted the AMAQ to reiterate its calls for a blanket ban on under 16s from riding e-scooters.
Dr Gannon said without it, "we will continue to see these tragic crashes, more preventable child injuries and potential loss of life".
"Children under 16 years simply do not have the skills needed to ride these devices safely, especially around vehicles, other riders and pedestrians," she said.
A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said the new age and licensing requirements would "improve safety by ensuring riders have basic road rule knowledge and the maturity needed to use these devices safely in public places".
Dr Gannon said more engagement was needed with community groups and medical specialists to ensure accurate decisions can be made when assessing whether a person who cannot hold a driver's licence should be granted an exemption.
"GPs, specialists and neurologists have all expressed significant concern and a reluctance to want to sign off on an exemption form without the proper stakeholder involvement and more clarity around those guidelines," she said.
'Very difficult for tourists'
Under the new laws, equivalent interstate and international driver's licences will also be accepted to ride e-devices.
However, Bicycle Queensland chief executive Matthew Burke holds concerns for those who travel without their licence.
"It's going to be difficult, very difficult for tourists. They don't tend to come with an international driver's licence; they tend to come just with a passport," he said.
Operators of e-mobility device rentals, including Lime and Neuron, will have until March next year to take reasonable steps to ensure riders meet age and licensing requirements.
This may include written or in-app declarations, sighting a rider's licence at the time of hire and rider declarations in the mobile app.
These rules also apply to short-term holiday rentals and longer-term subscription models.
Lime's Asia-Pacific leader Will Peters said the operator is continuing to call for an exemption for shared schemes.
"The shared schemes were caught in a little bit of a political football here because we did see completely abhorrent behaviour from some people riding e-bikes," he said.
"They weren't riding share bikes, and I think those bikes should be crushed, they should be cracked down on, and we really want to give people the opportunity to actually access e-bikes and e-scooters."
Mr Peters said Lime is working with the Department of Transport to ensure there is a "seamless transition".
"We do think they [the government] went a little too far here, but we are certainly in constant communication to ensure those measures are mitigated on our side and we will continue to watch this space," he said.
The number of people hiring an e-bike and e-scooter is expected to keep growing over summer, according to Mr Peters, with Lime looking towards how Brisbane will respond when the world visits.
"When we have got events such as the Olympics and we have got tourism booming âĻ we need to make sure that any measures or legislation and regulation that is put on to any public transport service is not a blunt instrument," he said.
"We made our views very clear that the shared schemes, they do carry a load-bearing arm of that transport network and they're further going to do that, especially coming up to the Olympics."
