Responding to community concern about issues surrounding e-scooter hire, the Victorian Government has established more stringent guidelines for their operation on the state's streets.
Hospital emergency departments have complained strenuously about the burden of injury resulting from misuse of the hire scooters, while discarded machines have littered footpaths and bike routes.
E-scooter operators must now get approval from the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to provide shared hire services in Victoria and meet specific safety standards.
Shared hire e-scooter operators in Victoria must use the following safety technologies:
- footpath detection
- helmet verification that disables the e-scooter if a helmet is not attached
- prompts to discourage riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- parking management
- geofencing to restrict access to certain areas or enforce go-slow zones
- operators must meet minimum standards for insurance and device specifications, submit a maintenance plan and pass a fit-and-proper person test.
Incumbent operators have until mid-May to obtain approval to continue operations.
New operators must seek DTP approval before offering e-scooter shared hire services in Victoria, with a decision made within 60 days of application submission.
DTP has published the requirements and the application process on the Victorian Government webpage.
The page features the updated Micromobility Share Schemes Guide for Councils and a new Sample Agreement to help councils create an e-scooter share scheme, which they can adapt to suit their needs.
The Road Safety Road Rules 2017 now permit a broader range of e-scooters for shared hire e-scooter operators, while private e-scooter requirements remain the same (as “Class A electric scooters”).
Key changes include allowance for greater weight, the option of up to three wheels and a new width restriction.
Bicycle Network has opposed these new size and weight allowances. Along with most previous government decisions on e-devices, we expect these dimensions to be corrected in the future.
Further detail can be found on pages 554–556 and 373 of the Road Rules.
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