SA government updates road rules for the use of e-scooters and other personal mobility devices

South Australians older than 16 will be allowed to ride private e-scooters on roads from next month, with a suite of new rules announced in a bid to keep riders safe.

Bronte Modra and Belle Lim riding Beam e-scooters Picture: Tricia Watkinson

South Australians will be able to ride e-scooters on the road and travel up to 25km/hr in major changes to the state’s road rules, the state government has announced.

Regulations have been finalised for the use of personal e-scooters and other personal mobility devices for people aged over 16 to ride on footpaths, bike paths, bike lanes and roads.

From July 13, devices can travel up to 10km/hr on footpaths, beaches and shared paths.

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E-scooters will be allowed to travel up to 25km/hr on 60km/hr roads, while all other devices, such as e-skateboards, are allowed to travel up to 25km/hr on 50km/hr roads.

Riders must wear a helmet and use a flashing light when riding at night, however they will not need a licence or need for their device to be registered.

Personal e-scooters can be used on shared paths from July 13. Picture: Supplied.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the road laws had been updated to reflect the rise in popularity of the devices as a cost-effective way to travel.

“These regulations will ensure all riders can enjoy the sustainability and mobility benefits, safely and for many years to come,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“While there is widespread enthusiasm for the uptake of e-scooters in our transport mix, we understand there are also concerns about their use.

“This is why we have taken the time to ensure the right balance in these regulations.”

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis addresses the media. Picture: Tim Joy

The government introduced legislation in June last year to allow privately-owned e-scooters in SA, after community consultation found 87 per cent of respondents supported the move.

RAA senior road safety manager Charles Mountain said the introduction of the devices must be managed carefully and a strong education campaign on the regulations was warranted.

“The new safety regulations and their enforcement, in particular speed limits, will be critical to ensure the safety of riders and other road users isn’t compromised,” Mr Mountain said.

Beam and Neuron e-scooters parked in the Adelaide CBD. Picture: Supplied.

Under the regulations, it will be an offence to ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol and users must not carry passengers or hold a mobile phone when riding.

The regulations will be reviewed in 12 months.

E-scooter hire companies can keep operating under business permits, with Neuron and Beam operating within the Adelaide City Council area since 2019.

A Neuron spokesperson said their e-scooters were capped at 15km/hr, but it would work closely with the council on how the regulations would apply to them.

“Adelaide is a fantastic city for micromobility and we’ve been proud to serve the community over the past five and a half years,” the spokesperson said.

“To date, our riders have travelled more than 2.3 million kilometres in the city, with over 99.99 per cent of trips ending safely and without incident.”

Beam added that their riders had taken almost two million trips since their launch and almost 600,000kg of carbon dioxide had been saved.

Originally published as SA government updates road rules for the use of e-scooters and other personal mobility devices