Two teenagers have been killed in an electric bike crash in Queensland, as the state considers a blanket ban on children under 16 riding compliant e-bikes and e-scooters.
Police say early investigations indicate a Harley-Davidson struck an e-bike travelling in the opposite direction after overtaking a vehicle on Middle Road in Greenbank, south of Brisbane, on Thursday night. The e-bike had no headlights on at the time, police say.
The 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl riding the e-bike were declared dead at the scene. The male motorbike rider was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a serious but stable condition. Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash and have appealed for witnesses or motorists with footage to come forward.
The deaths come amid growing concern about injuries linked to e-mobility devices. A Queensland parliamentary inquiry has recommended banning under-16s from riding compliant e-bikes and e-scooters, citing Queensland Health figures showing more than 6300 e-mobility related emergency department presentations in the year to March 2025, a figure thought to underestimate the true number of incidents. More than 200 cases involved major trauma and more than 60 required intensive care, mainly for head and facial injuries, the report said.
Under proposed rules, riders would be limited to a maximum of 10km/h on footpaths and would need to hold at least a learner’s licence, with exceptions for users of wheelchairs and other accessibility devices. Devices capable of speeds above 25km/h would be reclassified as a motorbike, moped or another appropriate category, meaning they could be ridden only on roads and would need to be registered and covered by compulsory third-party insurance.
Queensland Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said in March the Crisafulli government would not avoid the task of reforming regulations. “There are clearly changes needed when it comes to e-scooters,” he said. “We’ve received robust, comprehensive, and practical recommendations to deliver reform. “Some of these recommendations may mean making tough decisions, but we need to make those decisions to keep Queenslanders safe.”
A University of Melbourne study has also found children accounted for one in three Australian e-scooter deaths reported in the media from the start of 2020 to mid-2025.
