A Noosa resident who encountered a youth riding an e-bike in Noosa Heads National Park last Saturday holds serious concerns about the risk his behaviour poses for him or other part trail users, and he isn’t the only one riding illegally in Noosa’s national parks.
“I came across him coming down the Tanglewood Track at 4.30pm, having earlier seen him heading uphill at speed on a 4×4 access track,” Jan said.
“The Tanglewood Track is a steep, winding, narrow, rutted walking track on which pedestrians often have to stop or step aside to allow other walkers and runners to pass. In many places it would be difficult to get out of the way of an e-bike, and the rider would have difficulty stopping, and young families often use this track.
“This is the second time I have come across a young male rider on the Tanglewood Track in recent months as well as seeing riders entering the park from Sunshine Beach.
“There is going to be a serious accident if e-bike riding continues in the park, the tracks just aren’t suitable for mixed use.”
The state government is aware of illegal e-bike riding in national parks and is working to stop the activity.
A Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation spokesperson said department officers were working with Queensland Police Service on joint compliance exercises to target e-bikes and e-motorbikes within the national park, focused on education, noting that most illegal users are minors, and admitted no fines had been issued to date for illegal e-bike activity in Noosa National Park.
“Disappointingly, there has been a marked increase in illegal e-bike use in Noosa National Park and other protected areas on the Sunshine Coast,” the spokesperson said.
“When travelling through our national parks – whether on foot or bike – we should show respect and care for other park visitors who are there to appreciate and connect with nature.
“For those tempted to continue breaking the rules, be warned that fines of up to $483 can apply for riding an unregistered vehicle in a protected area.”
Jan said the damage bikes cause to the tracks makes a mockery of the work Parks is doing to upgrade track surfaces elsewhere in the park and believes parents need to take more responsibility.
“As with e-bike riding problems on our roads, this problem begins with parents allowing their kids to have the vehicles and not teaching or supervising safe and legal use. The young man in this photo thought my disapproval was totally unwarranted, he seemed to have no inkling of the risk he was posing to himself and others, or respect for the law he was breaking,” she said.
“It’s not ok for individuals like this to treat designated public pedestrian trails as their own private bike track.
The department spokesperson said they were in the process of updating signage to inform the public that e-bikes are not permitted within Noosa National Park.
Trails where e-bikes can be legally ridden can be found at visitnoosa.com.au/blog/cycling-in-noosa-from-bush-to-beach and on the department website.
