To address the issues that have arisen with E-bike and E-scooter use, Tewantin Noosa Lions have been working with Queensland Police over the past four months to deliver two E-bike and E-scooter community safety events within coming weeks.
Over recent years there has been a boom in the use of E-bikes and E-scooters or Personal Mobility Devices (PMD) to use the catch all term and the reasons are clear as they provide a relatively cheap form of transport that gives freedom to travel. This is particularly attractive to youths who are too young to hold a driving licence or can’t afford a car. It also frees them from being reliant on parents or limited public transportation, particularly in regional and coastal towns. Recent Queensland Government grants on E-bikes and E-scooters have further fuelled the take up.
Despite the benefits there are also a number of negatives and risks. Look at any Facebook community group and it will not take you long to come across a post lamenting a near miss with a PMD either on the roads or shared public pathway. There is also no shortage of posts highlighting dangerous behaviour and lack of road rules being followed. Often a single post will be commented on by the community members running into the high double figures.
One of the attractions of PMD’s for young people, its access to transport without the need for a licence or insurance is also its biggest detractor (excluding E-motor bikes and the illegally modified PMD’s).
We have a growing number of young people on the roads who have had no formal training on the rules of the road or road safety. Left unchecked this can only lead to more serious injuries and fatalities. To compound this even further many of the E-bikes and E-scooters being bought are not legal for an unlicenced rider, they are either bought in ignorance or wilfully modified to go faster than is legal for that class of device.
A recent two-day police blitz in Coolum resulted in 15 bikes seized, three of which were electric motor cycles that require a license to ride.
The safety events will be held on 30 November at Coolum State School from 10am to 2 pm and 7 December at Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Noosaville from 10am to 2pm.
During the months of planning, the event has grown to include a number of key stakeholders. (In fact whoever the Lions and Police spoke to were keen to be involved, such is the passion around this topic). As well as Queensland Police and Tewantin Noosa Lions, Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Fire and Rescue, Queensland Ambulance, Queensland Health, Sunshine Coast Council, Noosa Council and local schools have all joined forces to deliver a cohesive message.
The events are aimed at the whole community with the intent to educate and raise safety awareness on the rules and regulations around E-scooters and E-bikes.
There will be a number of talks at the events from keynote speakers plus practical E-bike and E-scooter training with each session lasting around 45 minutes. Each participant of the E-bike training will receive a free puncture repair kit courtesy of Giant Cycles at Noosaville.
In addition $1000 worth of helmets purchased through sponsorship from Live Life Pharmacy and RACQ will be given away through a prize draw for the participants of the practical training.
The Lions will be providing a free sausage sizzle at both events and there will be plenty to see and do with the Police, Fire and Rescue, Ambulance, TMR, Councils and RACQ exhibiting.
If you’re a parent or grandparent thinking of buying a PMD for your child or grandchild or you have a family member who already has a PMD please come along as a family. Let’s keep everyone safe through education and training.
To book visit:
Noosa event: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/noosa-e-scooter-and-e-bike-safety-day-tickets-1077065896089?aff=oddtdtcreator
Coolum event: www.eventbrite.com/e/coolum-e-scooter-and-e-bike-safety-day-tickets-1077069316319?aff=oddtdtcreator
