Since 2018, when Electric Scooters were first introduced in Australia, the states and territories have remained divided on the legality of electric scooters on public roads, and shared paths. The e-scooters are becoming a more popular mode of transport in metropolitan areas as in Brisbane almost a quarter (23.5%) of all e-scooter riders used them as a way to commute to work. As popular as they are becoming, it is important to understand e-scooter laws if you are going to be riding one.

Each state and territory have different rules and regulations regarding to use of e-scooters the only rule that all states and territories agree on is riders must wear bicycle helmets on public roads and shared paths. E-scooter riders need to remember that they must take safety seriously, as seriously as they take safety when operating a motor vehicle.

The new e-scooter laws include:

E-scooter speed limits:

• Riders must comply with relevant speed limits based on where they are riding.
• Where there is no relevant speed signage, the default speed limits are:
• 12km/h on footpaths, shared paths and crossings
• 25km/h on permitted local roads and dedicated bike paths and bike lanes.
• 10km/h in shared zones
• Or specified path speed limits

E-scooters can ride on:

• Footpaths, shared paths, separated paths and bike paths
• Local streets (where the speed limit is 50km/h or less and there are no dividing lines, median strips, or one-way streets with only 1 marked lane).
• Bike lanes on roads where the speed limit is 50km/h or less
• Bike lanes that are physically separated from other lanes of traffic

And are now permitted to:

• Use a mobile phone while stationary on a path or nature strip
• Park their device on a path or nature strip (for example, when using a shared e-scooter scheme)
• Ride diagonally across a scramble crossing pedestrian intersection
• Cross the pedestrian side of a separated footpath
• Ride on a safety zone near a tram stop.

E-scooters laws on the road

Riders are only permitted to ride on the road in some limited circumstances to:

• Avoid an obstruction on a path or bike lane for up to 50m
• Bike lanes that are physically separated from other lanes of traffic (for example, by bollards or raised median strip).
• Access a bicycle storage box at an intersection
• Move out of the way of an emergency vehicle
• Travel through an intersection between a road, bike lane or path that they are permitted to be in.

Safety equipment

• Riders must wear either an approved bicycle or motorcycle helmet.
• As e-scooters have handlebars riders, must ensure they have a bell or similar warning device fitted.