E-scooters will become legal to ride on shared paths and neighbourhood roads across NSW under a new state government plan.
The Minns government is set to table its response to a parliamentary inquiry into e-bikes and e-scooters on Tuesday. E-scooters are currently illegal to ride in public outside local government trial areas.
E-scooters will be legal to ride at 20km/h.Credit: Luis Ascui
The government is proposing e-scooters become legal to ride with a default speed limit between 10-20km/h on shared paths, and with a 20km/h speed limit on roads signposted 50km/h and below.
That includes segregated cycle paths.
That means e-scooter riders will be able to ride to work or transport connections in most inner Sydney suburbs.
Only those aged 16 and over will be allowed to legally ride in public.
The state government says there are about 1.35 million e-micromobility devices in NSW homes – that includes e-bikes and e-scooters. The highest usage group comprises those aged between 18 and 29.
“These devices are creating an evolution in how people move around – and that’s a good thing, but we need to get the balance right,” Transport Minister John Graham said.
“There’s still a lot of work to do but this provides a clear path forward when it comes to properly integrating and regulating this relatively new form of transport.
“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.”
The 20km/h speed limit for e-scooters is higher than the 15km/h recommended in the parliamentary inquiry’s report. That inquiry found that fat bikes were raising serious safety concerns for pedestrians.
The state government will not adopt the recommendation to lower speed limits in city centres.
The rule changes are expected to progress in coming months, with no firm date for when the law will change. They bring NSW into step with Victoria, where it is legal to ride the scooters on roads.
Melbourne once had a shared e-bike scheme that abruptly ended in 2024 in response to safety concerns. The council heard that footpaths were no longer safe and voted to end its contracts with two e-scooter hire companies six months early.
Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said there was confusion around current rules and reminded road users that until the laws come into effect, it was still illegal to ride e-scooters in public.
E-bikes are legal to ride on roads and cycle paths, and on footpaths for those under 16. They must have a power cap of 200 watts and cannot be solely propelled by a motor.
Work is under way to make the bikes safer as the state grapples with an increase in lithium-ion battery fires. Part of the government’s micromobility plan is to improve standards for the sale of these devices.
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