In an exciting announcement by the Qld Government, starting today, Queenslanders will be able to access a $500 subsidy to purchase e-bikes.

The million-dollar E-Mobility Rebate Scheme will enable up to 1,600* Queenslanders to access e-bikes for transport, health and recreation.

Earlier this year, We Ride Australia presented the government with modelling that used Australian Government and QLD Treasury figures and identified a return on investment of $7 for every dollar provided in incentives.

WeRide is very pleased that the advocacy of Bicycle Queensland combined with a strong economic case from WeRide’s modelling has now resulted in what is sure to be a very popular incentive that will get more Queenslanders cycling.

The $1million incentive program will return around $7 million in benefits for health, emissions reductions and improvements in congestion and *would fund up to 1,600 discounted e-bikes if used claimed exclusively for just e-bikes.

WeRide commissioned the modelling from the Institute for Sensible Transport in 2021 and it has since contributed to the adoption of e-bike incentives in local governments in South Australia, the Tasmanian Government and now the Queensland Government.

The data from WeRide builds on the 2023 EY economic report that highlighted that bicycle and scooter riders add around $3.5 billion to the Qld economy and $18.6billion to the Australian economy each year, including $1billion benefit to the health system and the avoidance of the equivalence of more than half a billion tonnes of vehicle emissions.

WeRide has a decades-long record of lobbying for investments of this type, first hosting a Parliamentary dinner in Canberra on the value of these economic incentives in 2012.

Nationally, we work with all cycling organisations and are very happy to see the successful outcome in this instance following the Queensland Government announcement.

Today’s announcement reinforces the value and importance of WeRide’s investment in national research, providing economic data and evidence, combined with a collaborative approach to achieve outstanding results for bike riders.

We look forward to other states and territories following the lead of Queensland (and Tasmania) providing incentives and subsidies to get more Australians riding.

It is also time for the Federal Government to follow international best practice and abolish the FBT on e-bikes to support more Australians riding to work.

– Our ride is made possible through the support of our members.

You can see who they are here: WeRide members