E-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards and segways will be banned from two popular Gold Coast parks as part of a council trial.
The ban will come into effect on Monday, March 2, at Pizzey Park in Miami and the Runaway Bay Sports Precinct.
The move follows growing community concern about the “chaos” caused by some groups of young people using the devices across the city, and a surge in injuries and deaths.
A Gold Coast cycling club has been forced to move its training after a turf war broke out at Runaway Bay, with kids on e-bikes accused of throwing gravel at genuine cyclists, and riding across sporting fields in the middle of games.
“Families have reached out to me that have been terrorised by people on e-bikes. Local sporting clubs have had their fields ripped up, and the local Men’s Shed had rocks thrown at their glass doors and damaged,” Councillor Nick Marshall said.
The trial will run for four weeks, with the results to be given to council in May.
“Whether we can limit the damage to our sporting fields, damage to our skate parks and pump tracks and just in general limit how much chaos some of these young individuals that are on these ebikes are creating in the community.”
Those who breach the trial rules will initially be given a warning, but face a $650 fine after that.
Exactly how the ban will be enforced has not been outlined.
Pizzey Park at Miami. Image: City of Gold Coast
The move comes as the state government prepares to announce its own crackdown on the devices.
A parliamentary committee that has been looking into the issue is due to report back next month.
The committee is expected to recommend banning children under 16 from e-devices, while those over 16 would require a licence.
The state government will have three months to respond to the inquiry’s report.
