Electric Scooter Riding and Australia Laws

If you are one of many e-scooter enthusiasts residing in Australia and you do not want to fall foul of the laws regarding the riding of e-scooters in the country, then this post is for you.

The first thing you need to know is that the sale of e-scooters in Australia is not illegal. So retailers of this enjoyable means of transportation are not breaking any regulation.

Secondly, the electric scooter Australia laws vary from one city to another with regards to riding. Regardless of your location in Australia, you have to strictly adhere to the laws in place as it concerns the use of e-scooters. The good news is, you do not need a license to ride an electric scooter in any part of Australia.

However, every city in Aussieland has its own peculiar laws when it comes to e-scooter use. This article gives you a brief insight into the electric scooter Australia laws for each of the major cities in the Land Down Under, so that you can have fun riding your e-scooter and with relative peace of mind.

Electric Scooter Australia Laws for Queensland

The electric scooter laws for Queensland are clearly spelled out for all concerned. To begin with, e-scooter users can ride on public footpaths and even cross a major street, especially where the speed limit is about 50 km/h, but it is illegal to ride on bike lanes.

Also, there are speed limits in place for riders. Anywhere else in Queensland the e-scooter speed limit is 25 km/h, but the speed limit for e-scooter riders in the South bank region is 10 km/h.

Other notable electric scooter laws for Queensland include;

• One of the electric scooter Australia laws applicable in Queensland is that relating to the age limit for e-scooter riders. Any child below 12 years is prohibited from riding an electric scooter. Also, all e-scooter riders below 17 years of age have to be under the supervision of an adult.

• Riders are expected to use protective gear at all times when riding their e-scooters. The protective gear includes; Helmets, Knee pads, Elbow pads and Hand gloves. Personal injuries from incidents and accidents while e-scootering is a real possibility and the law is clear on individual safety.

• Riders are expected to respect all road users and most especially pedestrians whom they are obligated to give a right of way and allow to pass at all times.

• e-scooter riders may be penalised for violating the law and may have to pay a fine as high as $130 AUD.

Electric Scooter Laws in NSW

The electric scooter laws in NSW are quite strict. Unlike in Queensland, you cannot ride your e-scooter on public footpaths or roads. Nevertheless, you are permitted to ride your e-scooter on privately owned property.

In recent times, the government of NSW formed an e-scooter working committee consisting of representatives from NSW state ministry of transportation, the NSW state police, members of the local councils and also reputable e-scooter companies.

The objective of the working group was to find out if e-scooter riding can be successfully integrated into complexities of the different modes of transportation in NSW. The trials were organised and implemented in Bondi and Manly. These trials are designed to help with the determination of the framework for the revision, amendment, regularisation and implementation of electric scooter laws in NSW.

Sydney, the capital of NSW is notorious for having the busiest pedestrian traffic in the whole of Australia. The congestion of this city has played a major role in shaping the electric scooter Sydney Law.

Ultimately, the legality of the public use of e-scooters in the NSW state capital is still up for debate as the safety of both e-scooter riders and other road users in the busy streets, footpaths and roads of Sydney is something the government is not willing to compromise at any cost.

But with regards to the electric scooter Sydney Law at this point in time, e-scooter riders are still permitted to ride within privately owned property in the city.

Electric Scooter Melbourne Law

The capital of Victoria, a state located in the South-eastern part of Australia is the beautiful coastal city of Melbourne.

When it comes to the use of e-scooters, this city is not exempted from the general laws to ride electric scooters in Australia, that are applicable in other parts of the country.

For starters, it is not illegal for you to ride your e-scooter in the state of Victoria or in the city of Melbourne, but the power output of your electric scooter must be less than 200 Watts. In addition, your e-scooter should be able to ride at a conservative speed that is less than or equal to 10 km/h if you intend riding on public footpaths or roads.

However, this electric scooter Melbourne law does not take into consideration the power and speed required to climb a hill. At a speed that is less than 10 km/h and a power output of just 200 Watts, the electric scooter would find it extremely difficult to go up a steep slope.

Where your e-scooter has a petrol driven motor or it is run entirely by electric power, but has a power output that is greater than 200 Watts and rides at a maximum speed in excess of 10 km/h, you will be violating the electric scooter Melbourne law and you will be liable to a fine of much as $826 AUD. In addition to this, such an e-scooter would not be allowed on any public footpath, road or even park.

In Conclusion;

It must be said that the state of Victoria and the city of Melbourne is perfectly suited for scootering and with mounting pressure from e-scooter companies and the public at large, it is hoped that there would be amendments to the electric scooter Melbourne law to allow the use of e-scooters with a higher power output and faster speed limits in the nearest future.

As an extension to this, it is expected that by 2021 the as a whole would be critically looked at by those concerned and harmonised, so that e-scooter riders from all parts of Australia would be able to own and ride their e-scooters in public without fear of any form of prosecution.