Electric scooter and Generally micro mobility laws for Australia and all the states.

The law for motorized small vehicles as it is appears on the official Australian State website on the 6/1/21

South Australia:

 Can I ride a motorised wheeled recreational device on a road, footpath or bike track?

No. These devices cannot be used on roads or road related areas such as foot paths, bike/pedestrian tracks, or vehicle parking areas.   Under South Australian legislation, these devices are considered to be motor vehicles. Operating a motor vehicle requires a driver’s licence, registration and compulsory third party insurance. As these devices do not meet the safety standards under the Australian Design Rules they are not eligible for registration.

What about powered assisted wheeled recreational devices advertised as toys? Can they be used on a road, footpath or bike track?
No. Many power-assisted wheeled recreational devices available for purchase online or through retail stores are often sold as toys, depicting children riding them.  Regardless of the power output of the motor fitted to the device, they cannot be used on roads or road related areas such as footpaths, bike/pedestrian tracks, or vehicle parking areas.

Where can I ride a motorised wheeled recreational device?
These devices can only be used on private property. Failure to comply could result in fines for driving unregistered and uninsured and in some instances for not holding the appropriate driver’s licence.

Can I ride a non-motorised wheeled recreation device on a road, footpath or bike track?
A wheeled recreational device that is not fitted with a motor and is propelled solely by human power or gravity can be used on footpaths, bike/pedestrian tracks, parks and in some circumstances on roads. Examples of these devices include:

• Skateboards
• Foot scooters
• Rollerblades
• Roller skates

For more information regarding the use of non-powered scooters and skateboards please refer to the Department of Infrastructure and Transport’s Towards Zero Together website.

NSW:

A pedestrian includes "a person in or on a wheeled recreational device or wheeled toy". This includes rollerblades, a skateboard, scooter, unicycle or similar wheeled device:

• Foot scooters, skateboards and rollerblades may be ridden on footpaths unless signs specifically prohibit them, however, riders must keep to the left and give way to other pedestrians
• Powered foot scooters and skateboards cannot be registered and can only be used on private land
• On separated bicycle and pedestrian paths, foot scooter, skateboard and rollerblade riders must use the section designated for bicycles, but must keep out of the path of any bicycle
• Foot scooters, skateboards and rollerblades can only be used on the road during daylight hours
• They cannot be used on roads with a dividing line or median strip or a speed limit greater than 50km/h, or a one-way road with more than one marked lane.

QUEENSLAND:

A rideable in Queensland must:

• be designed for use by a single person only
• fit the following dimensions:
  • 1,250mm in length by 700mm in width by 1,350mm in height
    or
  • 700mm in length by 1,250mm in width by 1,350mm in height
• have a maximum speed of 25km/h
• have a maximum weight of 60kg—when not carrying a person or load
• be powered by an electric motor
• have 1 or more wheels
• have a braking system
• have no sharp protrusions.

Rules for rideable

For everyone’s safety, ride in a safe and respectful manner, especially around pedestrians. Rideable don't need to be registered.

For your safety, you must:

• be at least 16 years of age, or 12 with adult supervision
• wear an approved bicycle helmet, that is securely fitted, at all times (unless an exemption has been granted for medical or religious reasons)
• not carry passengers
• not use a mobile device
• not drink and ride
• have a working flashing or steady white light on the front, and a red light and reflector at the rear when travelling at night or in hazardous conditions.

When riding on a path, you must:

• Keep left and give way to pedestrians.
• Travel at a speed that allows you to stop safely to avoid colliding with a pedestrian.
• Travel at a safe distance from a pedestrian so you can avoid a collision.
• Keep left of oncoming bicycles and other personal mobility devices.
• Only use the bicycle side of a shared path.

Using a rideable

Rideable should be used on paths wherever possible.

Some limited access to roads is permitted but only in specific circumstances. For example, you can use your rideable to cross a road or avoid an obstruction on a path for up to 50m.

You are allowed to stay on your personal mobility device to cross a road at a designated crossing.

You can also ride on local streets, where it is safe to do so. A local street is a road with a speed limit of 50km/h or less. It must have no dividing line or median strip and if it is a one-way road, it can’t have more than one lane.

You must not ride on main roads or streets in the Brisbane CBD.

When permitted to ride on a street you must keep as far to the left side of the road as practicable.

Just like bicycle riders, you may ride alongside 1 other person or vehicle travelling on a road in the same direction. However, you must not cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver or unreasonably obstruct the path of any other road user.

You must not:

• be towed by another vehicle
• hold on to the back of another vehicle
• ride within 2m of the rear of a moving motor vehicle continuously for more than 200m.

Restricted areas

Personal mobility device prohibited sign

You must not travel past a personal mobility devices prohibited sign—your local council or land owners may prohibit personal mobility devices in areas like malls, esplanades or jetties.

You should also contact your local council to find out if there are any local laws that apply to the use of rideables.

Penalties for non-compliance

If you get caught not complying with these rules you will be fined at least $133.

Hiring a rideable

If you are using a hired rideable you must leave your device in a safe and responsible way having regard for other path users.

Hire companies may have additional conditions of use in addition these rules.

Hire companies must consult their local council or authority prior to deployment.

 

NT:

Motorised Foot Scooter A motorised foot scooter is typically a wheeled recreation device equipped with an engine or motor of some description. Motorised scooters with a power output greater than 200 watts are defined as motor vehicles in the NT Motor Vehicles Act. As motor vehicles, motorised scooters used on roads, or in public places, need to be registered and ridden by licensed riders. However, motorised scooters are not designed or manufactured to comply with registration requirements and national safety standards for road vehicles, such as Australian Design Rules (ADRs). Therefore, they cannot be granted registration for on-road use and may not be ridden on public roads or places open to the public (including footpaths, bike paths, carparks, etc.

Victoria:

A motorised scooter:

• has the same features as a foot scooter 
• can be propelled by an electric motor with a maximum power output of 200 watts or less
• is not able to travel faster than 10 km/h when ridden on level ground.

Is my scooter legal?

If your motorised scooter:

• is powered by a petrol motor 
• has an electric motor with a maximum power greater than 200 watts
• has a maximum speed greater than 10 km/h

then it cannot be legally used on a road or any road related areas, including footpaths, share paths and public areas. The fine for an illegal device is $826. Other penalties may also apply.

West Australia:

With the sale of electric scooters (e-scooters) widely advertised in WA, the Department of Transport wishes to inform potential riders of the devices of the current rules and regulations.

Many e-scooters currently for sale in WA are illegal to use on public roads and paths in WA and can only be used on private property.

Compliant e-scooters can only be legally ridden on low speed WA public roads and paths if their maximum power output is no more than 200 watts and they cannot travel more than 10 km/h on level ground. Many e-scooters on the market are non-compliant and have motors that exceed 200 watts and can travel at speeds much faster than 10 km/h.

Riders of e-scooters that are compliant with relevant power output and speed regulations also must follow the following rules under Road Traffic Code 2000:

• Riders are permitted on footpaths and shared paths, so long as the rider keeps left and gives way to pedestrians also using the paths;
• Riders must wear a helmet;
• Riders cannot ride on roads with a speed limit exceeding 50km/h;
• Riders cannot ride on roads with a dividing line or median strip;
• Riders cannot ride on one-way roads with more than one marked lane; and
• Riders cannot ride during the hours of darkness.

Devices such as e-scooters have grown in popularity in response to community demand for more innovative and sustainable travel choices, which have the potential to lessen car dependence and more efficiently connect people to cities and communities.

With this is mind the Department of Transport is working with a range of stakeholders, including e-scooter companies, local governments and the Road Safety Commission as well as the National Transport Commission and other States and Territories, to develop a regulatory framework which could allow for the safe and convenient use of e-scooters on our transport network.

Christmas is traditionally a time when new bikes, skateboards and scooters are gifted and the Department of Transport would like to take this opportunity to remind parents and riders that it is important to wear a helmet, take care and ride safely.

Tasmania:

Motorised Scooters For the purposes of the Road Rules these low powered motorised scooters will be treated the same as riders of foot-powered scooters, skateboards and rollerblades (ie 'wheeled recreational devices'). A person riding a motorised scooter that is powered by a motor or motors not exceeding a maximum power output of 200 watts, will now be permitted to ride on paths and some roads. These are motorised scooters having two or more wheels and a footboard supported by the wheels, steered by handlebars and designed to be used by one person. The new rules The riders of motorised scooters will in future be required to wear an approved bicycle helmet; and as with other wheeled recreational devices, motorised scooters:  can be used on paths and roads where the speed limit is 50 km/h or less but cannot be used on roads with dividing lines or median strips;  must keep to the left on roads and paths and must not be ridden two abreast;  must not be used on the road at night except if crossing by the shortest route, for example at an intersection, although they can be used on paths at night; and  must give way to walkers and be ridden with due care and attention. Motorised Scooters (wheeled recreational devices) If you intend riding a motorised scooter make sure the scooter does not have a motor (or motors) with a power output that exceeds 200 watts, wear an approved bicycle helmet and obey all of the road rules applying to the riders of wheeled recreational devices. Also do not use a motorised scooter in areas that have either of the signs below displayed. Road safety reasons  Unless properly used, wheeled recreational devices including small motorised scooters can be dangerous. Scooter riders often move quicker than walkers and joggers and drivers might have difficulty seeing you in traffic. Remember, drivers are more likely to be looking out for cars and other vehicles, not small scooters.  Walkers on paths are sometimes surprised by scooter riders or skaters and often can’t hear you approaching, which is why you must give way to them and keep to the left so they know where you are going.