The New South Wales Government will legalise e-scooters on shared paths and on-road bike lanes, but they will remain illegal on footpaths.
The move addresses a long-standing regulatory blind spot. Until now, it has been legal to buy an e-scooter and ride it in private spaces, but not on NSW streets, aside from limited trials in some local council areas.
The government’s response to a parliamentary inquiry into e-micromobility devices supports e-scooters being ridden on shared paths with a default speed limit of between 10 and 20km/h. In on-road bike lanes signposted at 50km/h, their speed limit would be 20km/h but they would still be banned on footpaths.
The government has not proposed a speed limit for e-bikes on paths, but has floated it will amend the legislative definition of an e-bike to ensure only pedal-powered e-bikes are permitted.
E-scooter riders will need to be at least 16, but minors will be allowed to ride e-bikes without a licence or formal training.
As with bicycles, under-16s will be able to ride e-bikes on footpaths.
Police will enforce the new rules and work with the state government to decide on appropriate penalties for breaches.
The parliamentary inquiry recommended safety standards to reduce lithium-ion battery fires, a rider education campaign and investment in vital infrastructure, including improving future shared path design.
The inquiry also saw doctors urge MPs not to legalise e-scooters for children under 16 after a spike in crash-related injuries among children.
An estimated 1.35 million e-micromobility devices are in use across NSW, with almost half that number used to connect with public transport.
Recent data shows that 34% of e-micromobility trips are replacing car trips in greater Sydney and 45% in regional NSW.
Transport Minister John Graham said the rules being put forward were a sensible way to "promote the health and lifestyle benefits of e-bikes and e-scooters while protecting the safety of riders and everyone else sharing the paths and roads with them.
"We recognise the community's concerns, particularly around device modification, fire risk, discarded shared e-bikes and poor rider behaviour – which is why we're taking action."
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