Brisbane declares war on e-scooter speedsters
Following a trial, private and rental electric scooters will be permanently legalised from October. Photo: AAP
A man on an e-scooter has been allegedly caught travelling at three times the speed limit on a Brisbane footpath during a police crackdown on speeding scooter and bike riders.
More than 90 infringement notices were issued during the Thursday operation on the Story Bridge, which joins the city’s north and south.
Police said the blitz was launched after numerous complaints about people riding e-bikes and e-scooters dangerously.
North Brisbane highway patrol’s Senior Constable Duncan Hill said officers were disappointed at the lack of attention being paid to safety.
Excessive-speed injuries
“Increasingly, we’re seeing e-scooter riders suffer serious injuries when they come off, with excessive speed almost always a factor,” he said.
Queensland last year introduced a lower speed limit of 12km/h for e-scooters and other mobility devices like e-skateboards on shared paths, while a 25km/h limit applies on bike paths and roads.
During the police operation, one rider was allegedly caught travelling on an e-scooter at 40km/h on a footpath, more than three times the legal limit.
Snr Const Hill said police were seeing riders suffer broken bones, concussions and lost teeth on a weekly basis.
“A collision at that speed can be fatal, for the rider and unsuspecting pedestrians in their path, not to mention the fine of up to $575,” he said.
Two men were taken to hospital on Friday night after accidents on e-scooters in Queensland, including one involved in a collision with a car.
Another man was hospitalised with facial injuries after an e-scooter incident on Saturday.
-AAP