More than 1,100 people on bikes and e-scooters travel the Sylvan Road Bikeway corridor each weekday in Brisbane’s inner west, despite the route running directly alongside traffic with no physical separation. Plans are now advancing fora protected bikeway through Toowong.
Early works are expected to start from mid-2026, with a target completion in 2028, after community consultation held in June 2025. The project is backed by a Queensland cycling grant supporting the design phase and a $5 million federal contribution announced on 27 February 2025, towards an estimated $12 million total cost.
A Key Link Between Two Major Bikeways
Sylvan Road is a key connection between two major off-road routes: the Bicentennial Bikeway near the river and the Western Freeway Bikeway. Council describes the project as part of local network improvements around Sylvan Road and nearby intersections, aimed at making trips smoother and safer for more people moving through Toowong.
The route has also been highlighted in cycling safety reporting, including BikeSpot material that collects and maps locations riders consider unsafe.
Strong Community Support
Council’s community engagement update reports strong support for protected infrastructure on Sylvan Road. It says 93 per cent of respondents believed a separated bikeway would have a positive or very positive effect on their travel, while 94 per cent said they would feel very safe or somewhat safe using Sylvan Road if a separated bikeway was installed.
The consultation summary also reports concerns about avoiding crashes, unsafe turning movements and limited crossing options. It notes people asked for safer crossings, slower traffic speeds, wider footpaths, better lighting and more greenery to improve comfort for everyone using the street.
Alongside separated bike lanes, Council’s update also points to work around major junctions connected to Sylvan Road, including Croydon Street, Jephson Street and Milton Road. Council says it is working toward concept designs in early 2026, with detailed design expected later in the year, and construction timing dependent on how the design develops.
Council’s “Your Say” page for the project describes Sylvan Road as a popular cycling route linking the two bikeways and says there is an opportunity to improve safety for walking, riding and scooting, including at key intersections.
A safety campaign has been rolled out ahead of Christmas to encourage safer use of e-scooters and e-bikes in Toowong and across Queensland. The initiative follows concerns about fatalities, serious injuries and the use of illegal devices, particularly involving young riders. The Bicentennial Bikeway, a popular commuter route along the river from Toowong to the CBD, is one of the key locations where the safety messages apply.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Recent Safety Concerns
In the past three years, Queensland has recorded 18 e-scooter deaths and several e-bike-related fatalities. Authorities have also raised concerns about young people riding illegal e-motorbikes on public streets and roads, especially in South East Queensland.
Between 1 January and 31 December 2024, Queensland recorded 302 road fatalities, which was 28 more than the previous year and 34 above the five-year average. Over the same period, there were 8,573 hospitalised casualties from road crashes, 331 more than the previous year and 1,002 above the five-year average.
These figures sit behind the decision to reinforce road safety messages across all transport modes, including e-scooters, e-bikes and e-motorbikes.
Campaign Details in Queensland
The Know Your eRules campaign is being led by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Advertising is running on Spotify, social media and bus shelters through the Christmas period to remind riders that e-mobility devices can be deadly when used illegally or incorrectly.
Queensland Police will issue penalties and fines to people who break the rules, including parents who allow children to ride illegal devices. The campaign encourages adults, particularly parents, to check the official guidance and ensure any device they buy for Christmas is legal and used safely.
Photo Credit: Supplied
E-Scooter Rules for Toowong Riders
For e-scooters and other personal mobility devices, riders must be at least 16 years old. Children aged 12 to 15 may ride only under adult supervision, while children under 12 are not allowed to ride these devices.
Only one person can ride an e-scooter at a time, and a properly fastened helmet is compulsory. E-scooters can travel at a maximum of 25 km/h, with a limit of 12 km/h on footpaths and shared paths unless signs say otherwise. Fines of more than $660 can apply for speeding.
E-scooters may be used on footpaths, shared paths, separated bike paths, on-road bike lanes with speed limits of 50 km/h or less, and local streets with speed limits of 50 km/h or less where there is no dividing line. Riders must leave their phone alone, not drink and ride, obey give way and stop signs, and give way to pedestrians.
E-Bike Requirements and Illegal Devices
E-bikes must rely mainly on pedal power and have a motor with a maximum continuous output of 250 watts, providing assistance only up to 25 km/h. Throttle power is permitted up to 6 km/h to help the rider start moving, but above that speed pedalling must activate the motor.
These devices may be ridden wherever bicycles are allowed, but not on motorways or in areas marked with “no bicycles” signs. Riders must follow signed speed limits and general road rules. High-powered devices that exceed 250 watts, rely on throttle power alone above 6 km/h, or use internal combustion engines are considered non-compliant. Total fines can be more than $1,640, and police may impound or confiscate illegal devices.
E-motorbikes are high-speed electric 2- and 3-wheelers that are separate from low-speed, pedal-assisted e-bikes. Road-legal e-motorbikes must comply with Australian Design Rules, be registered, carry compulsory third party insurance and have features such as headlights, brake lights, indicators, mirrors and a vehicle identification number. Riders need the correct motorbike licence class, and penalties apply for using unregistered, uninsured or unlicensed vehicles.
Some e-motorbikes are sold for off-road use only and cannot be used on roads or public paths in Queensland unless conditionally registered for very limited access to off-road tracks. The fact sheets note that children have been killed riding non-compliant e-motorbikes, and parents can be fined if they allow a child to ride such devices in public.
Local Routes in Toowong
The Bicentennial Bikeway is a popular commuter route that runs along the river between Toowong and the Brisbane CBD. This shared path is widely used by cyclists, e-bike riders and e-scooter users travelling between the western suburbs and the inner city. Parts of the Brisbane River Loop also make use of the same riverside corridor used by riders from Toowong.
The campaign encourages riders and parents in Toowong and across Queensland to check the StreetSmarts website for detailed information on legal devices and riding rules. The message is clear: choose legal devices, understand the rules and follow them, particularly during the Christmas period when many e-scooters, e-bikes and e-motorbikes are bought as gifts.
