Each state and territory in Australia has a different set of rules and regulations pertaining to the usage of e-scooters, e-boards and e-bikes (including where e-scooters, e-boards and e-bikes can legally be used and whether these products need to be registered with the relevant road traffic authority). Any user of this product must ensure that that they check and abide by their local by-laws and use responsibly. Ride with caution and always wear a helmet and protective gear when riding your e-scooter, e-board or e-bike.
Electric scooter laws: ACT [ Australian Capital Territory ]
ACT has been legalised for riding an electric scooters in 2019. There are many electric scooters rental fleets on the street and electric scooter shops around Canberra City. With the number of e-scooters, both privately-owned and hired, increasing in Canberra, all riders must ensure they are riding safely and adhering to all relevant rules and laws.
E-scooters can be ridden in many areas, but users have to remember they are responsible for their own safety, and that of others.
Riders should be aware that:
- it is legal to use e-scooters on shared paths and footpaths; however, riders must give way to pedestrians
- persons under 12 years of age must be supervised by an adult when using an e-scooter
- a rider cannot carry a passenger
- e-scooters are not permitted on roads or on-road bicycle lanes, except on residential streets where there is no footpath
- e-scooters are also not permitted along the light rail corridor and users should always obey pedestrian traffic lights when crossing at lights
- an approved bicycle helmet must be worn and the e-scooter must have a warning device such as a bell
- the e-scooters or the rider, must be fitted with a light and reflectors if the rider plans to use the e-scooter at night or in inclement weather
- you cannot be under the influence of alcohol or a drug or use a mobile phone while riding
- the speed limit for an e-scooter on a shared footpath or cycle path is 25km/h, 15km/h for footpaths and 10km/h when at a crossing.
Fines apply for offences occurred and for e-scooter riders failing to follow the legislation.
Electric scooter laws: QLD [ Queensland ]
Brisbane was the first Australian city to trial electric Lime scooters. During this ongoing trial, e-scooters can travel at a maximum speed of 25km/h, and can only be used on footpaths – not on roads or in cycle lanes. Additionally, riders must wear an approved helmet.
Although the Brisbane City Council recently agreed to extend Lime’s trial permit to the middle of 2019, this has now come under question following several e-scooter related accidents and injuries. It may be possible that Lime’s permit will be revoked in Brisbane, as several Lime scooters have experienced technical glitches which caused riders to crash. This could also impact Lime’s proposed trials in other Australian capital cities.
In other parts of Queensland, where Lime scooters are not currently legal, electric scooter laws vary. For example, 22 Lime Scooters were recently confiscated on the Gold Coast for violating local laws.
According to the Queensland Government website, an electric scooter must have “a small electric motor (200 watts or under) that has a maximum speed of 10km.” Further, electric scooter riders must wear a helmet.
These rules were adjusted in Brisbane for the Lime scooter trial, but still apply throughout the rest of Queensland. If Lime’s permit is revoked in Brisbane, it is likely that Brisbane will revert to these e-scooter laws.
Electric scooter laws: NSW [ New South Wales ]
New South Wales road rules currently stipulate that “powered foot scooters…cannot be registered and can only be used on private land.” As such, it is illegal to ride an electric scooter anywhere in New South Wales, other than on private property.
However, users should be aware that Lime recently trialled 300 electric bikes in Sydney, which could travel at up to 24km/h. Thus, it is possible that an e-scooter trial could follow. If this occurs, e-scooter laws in New South Wales might be revised like they have been in Brisbane.
Electric scooter laws: NT [ Northern Territory ]
In the Northern Territory, a motorised scooter is defined as any “kick-type scooter that is equipped with an engine or motor.” All electric scooters are considered to be motor vehicles under Northern Territory law, and as such must be registered to be used on roads or in other public places.
Electric scooter laws: TAS [ Tasmania ]
A motorised scooter cannot travel faster than 10km/h in Tasmania, and must have a power output of no more than 200 watts.
If these stipulations are not met, the electric scooter is deemed to be a motor vehicle. However, electric scooters cannot be registered as motor vehicles in Tasmania as they fail to meet the minimum safety requirements. As such, any e-scooter that has a power output of more than 200 watts can only be used on private property in Tasmania.
Electric scooter laws: VIC [ Victoria ]
Victorian law stipulates that a motorised scooter cannot travel faster than 10km/h. Additionally, a motorised scooter must have a maximum power output of 200 watts or less. Electric scooters that do not meet these stipulations can be used on private property, but not in public.
If an electric scooter fails to meet these requirements, it is classified as a motor vehicle. If classified as a motor vehicle, the electric scooter must be registered, and the rider must have a valid motorcycle license.
Lime recently held electric scooter trials in Melbourne at Monash University, so it is possible that further trials will be conducted in Victoria in the future. If so, it is possible that e-scooter laws in Victoria could be revised like they have been in Brisbane. Prior to the Lime scooter trial in Brisbane, electric scooters could only travel at 10km/h, however this was changed to 25km/h during the trial.
Electric scooter laws: WA [ Western Australia ]
Currently, Western Australian laws stipulate that electric scooters must travel at 10km/h or less, and “must not be used on footpaths and paths designed for shared use by pedestrians and bicycles.” Any unlicensed electric scooters may only be used on private property.
Lime is currently planning to trial their e-scooters in Perth. For this proposed trial, Lime has applied for an exemption to raise the speed limit for electric scooters from 10km/h to 15km/h in Perth.
Electric scooter laws: SA [ South Australia ]
In South Australia, it is illegal to ride an electric scooter on the road, footpath, bicycle track, or anywhere other than private property. Under South Australian law, electric scooters are considered motor vehicles, with the relevant law explaining “operating a motor vehicle requires a driver’s licence, registration and compulsory third party insurance. As these devices [electric scooters] do not meet the safety standards under the Australian Design Rules they are not eligible for registration.”
Despite this, Lime will trial 500 electric scooters in Adelaide’s CBD during February and March 2019. To ride these scooters, users must wear a helmet and cannot exceed 15km/h. Users must also be over the age of 18. Additionally, the scooters can only be used on footpaths or shared pathways, and must not be used on multi-lane roads, or any road with a speed limit of more than 50km/h. During the trial, the e-scooters will be fitted with a GPS device which will automatically disable the scooter if it is taken outside of Adelaide’s CBD.
Source: shorturl.at/dhxLZ