Electric powered scooters (e-scooters) are increasingly being used as a form of sustainable transport.
The Department of Transport has reported many e-scooter users are riding them on public roads and footpaths despite it being illegal to do so, and safety risks are emerging.
Electric scooter laws in Victoria state that only electric scooters with a maximum speed limit of 10 km/h and a maximum power of 200W are allowed on footpaths and some roads.
Unfortunately, most electric scooters in the market offer specs higher than the legal limits , as such most e-scooter riders can’t ride in public areas including roads and footpaths.
An incident in Brighton last week, in which an elderly woman was injured on a footpath, highlights the need for everyone to be aware of the rules on the use of private and/or public e-scooters.
Bayside Council meets fortnightly with Victoria Police, who enforce e-scooter laws, and both organisations work together to pro-actively support the safety and amenity of the community.
E-scooting regulations
- The current trial in Victoria allows people to hire e-scooters and ride them on bicycle lanes, shared paths and lower speed roads (up to 50km/h) within the participating local government areas only consisting of City of Melbourne, Yarra and Port Phillip.
- The trial E-scooters are not permitted to be ridden on footpaths.
- Only e-scooters supplied by approved operators are permitted for use.
- Only private e-scooters with a top speed of 10kmh and motor of 200 watts or less can be ridden on footpaths, shared paths, bike paths, in parks (unless a ‘no wheeled recreational devices’ sign prohibits it) and on roads with a speed limit of 50kmh or below. They cannot be ridden in bike lanes.
- The minimum age to ride an e-scooter in the trial is 18 years.
- You don’t need a licence, but if you do have one, including a learner’s permit, it can be cancelled or suspended if drink or drug driving restrictions are breached, and heavy fines can be imposed.
- All riders of trial e-scooters must be under 0.05 BAC (irrespective of the type of motor vehicle licence you may hold or whether you hold a licence at all) and zero presence for proscribed drugs.
- Helmets must be worn when riding an e-scooter and use of a mobile phone while riding is illegal.
