Tour de Mature

26/05/2026

Just to let my readers know that I have spent the morning updating my web page - tourdemature.com and to ask for feedback about the site as it currently is presented and/or suggestions about what needs updating, changing or added to.

I am working with my Kurrajong Advocacy Team mates to try and get Pedal Power ACT to agree to develop a policy to take to the ACT Government about a preferred regulatory approach to both legal ebikes and illegal emopeds and emotorbikes before the ACT follows in the footsteps of other Australian jurisdictions and brings in legislation that does nothing to protect people from high speed, illegal devices and instead makes it very difficult to go for a ride on an approved ebike.

Steve

26/04/2026

I’ve just updated my tourdemature.com webpage with a link to the Taddei Bike Rental and Tours store in San Miniato, Tuscany, Italy. If you are looking to hire Specialized bikes or e bikes for your touring in Italy, Taddei has just announced its new bike line up for 2026. You can get S-Works, Creos, Lego’s and Vados among a long list of available bikes. If you are itching to try out an e road bike or an e mtb give Renato a call at Taddei and tell him Stefano from Canberra suggested you call him.

You can see their bike line up for 2026 on their website taddeibikerentals.com

08/04/2026

The Qld and NSW Governments are considering introducing legislation to lump all e-devices (other than medical aids) together as a single category of 'e bike' and introduce draconian rules regulating all e bikes. The latter may include a minimum age of 16 for riders and for all riders to have a vehicle licence or an e bike licence, the requirement to register all 3 bikes and to display a number plate and the need to purchase e bike insurance for all e bikes od a certain power rating or higher.

As at April 2026 many cycling advocacy groups are endeavouring to get these governments to recognise the potential negative impact of proceeding as suggested and to consider making sensible changes to the proposals such that regulations applying to e mopeds and e motor bikes will be properly enforced but e bikes are left to be regulated the same was as ordinary bikes.

Here in the ACT I am striving to get our cycling advocacy group, Pedal Power ACT, to advocate to try and ensure that the ACT Government doesn't blindly follow the same path as NSW and to join our NSW colleagues in drawing potential problems to the attention of the NSW Government. For example the potential impact on cycling tourism that the introduction of these regulations would cause.

NSW has been investing in converting many km's of unused railway lines into rail trails with the most recent major project being the Northern Rivers Rail Trail ( https://www.railtrails.org.au/trails/northern-rivers-rail-trail/)
which is drawing many riders from interstate including those riding e gravel and e mountain bikes. Riders from jurisdictions that don't apply the same 'e bike' rules may choose to ride in jurisdictions that don't have these pointless regulations.

Of course for jurisdictions that sensibly stay away from these pointless regulations may be able to take advantage of improving their on and off road cycling infrastructure to boost their cycling tourism attractiveness.

If you are reading this and agree with the position I have outlined, please see what you can do in your jurisdiction to try and get governments to focus of the real problem - e mopeds and e motor bikes that are allowed to be used contrary to the jurisdictions' exisiting rules and regulations!

Steve

The award-winning Northern Rivers Rail Trail visits wonderful towns, bridges and tunnels as it traverses the lush countryside of north-eastern NSW. Currently two sections are open – from Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek and from Casino to Lismore, totalling 54km.