Changing rules for e-bikes and e-scooters: Your rights and what’s legal

Despite their many benefits, the rate of injuries and deaths linked to e-scooters and e-bikes has increased. And the rules differ everywhere you ride them across Australia.

Whether you love them or hate them, the use of electric-powered, lightweight vehicles like e-scooters and e-bikes – has boomed in Australia in recent years.

There’s no doubt these ‘micro devices’ help people move around in a healthy and affordable way, reduce congestion, demand for parking and boost economic and environmental outcomes.

In 2023, the largest study on Australia’s cycling and e-scooter economy revealed there were 3.6 million e-scooter riders across the nation in 2022.

The economic contribution to the nation was $728 million for the same year.

The use of electric-powered, lightweight vehicles like e-scooters and e-bikes has boomed in Australia in recent years. Picture: Julian Andrews

But, with the boom in popularity across the country, some states are considering introducing strict rules and regulations to make their use safer for riders, pedestrians and other road users.

Despite their many benefits, the rate of injuries associated with micro-device use has increased alongside their popularity.

New research published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health this week has revealed almost 180 young people under 16 required hospital treatment over two years on the Sunshine Coast alone.

Experts are calling for improved safety measures and regulations as it believed the trend of pediatric injuries would be equally high in all areas where the vehicles have boomed.

There have also been fatalities, with the most recent occurring in Townsville and NSW.

There is still no clear national standard to go by so here’s a breakdown of the current terms, rules and regulations.

This is what we know.

WHAT ARE E-BIKES?

An e-bike is a bicycle that has been fitted with an electric motor and battery and is also known as an electric bicycle.

E-bikes must be mostly propelled by the rider – their motor cannot be the only source of power and must be fitted to the Australian standard under state government regulations

The same rules and responsibilities apply to riders of an e-bike as a traditional bicycle.

TYPES OF E-BIKES

There are only two kinds of e-bikes that can be legally ridden on NSW roads and public places.

A power-assisted pedal cycle:

• Has one or more motors attached with a combined maximum power output of up to 200 watts

• Can’t be propelled only by the motor/s

• Weighs less than 50kg (including batteries)

• Has a height-adjustable seat

An electrically power-assisted cycle

• Has a maximum continued rated power of up to 500 watts that reduces as the bicycle’s speed increases beyond 6km/h and cuts off when the speed reaches 25km/h or the rider stops

pedalling and the speed exceeds 6km/h

There are five main categories of bicycle which can be sold as e-bikes but they must comply with mandatory safety standards before they can be sold.

• Road bike: suitable for riding on the road

• Hybrid bike: good for multipurpose use

• Mountain bike: best for off-road use

• BMX bike: designed for off-road courses and stunts

• Cargo bike: great for people who need to carry a heavier load like children, pets or groceries

ELECTRIC SCOOTERS

E-scooters were first introduced in 2018 when public hire companies like Lime launched in Brisbane, Qld.

Other companies have since sprung up including Beam and Neuron across various Australian cities offering rentals of both e-scooters and e-bikes.

E-scooters have been legalised in Brisbane, Canberra, and parts of Western Australia.

Last year, the City of Melbourne banned e-scooters for hire in its municipality.

But the NSW Government is set to make big changes to the rules and regulations of both e-scooters – which will be legalised – and e-bikes as well as outlining legalised standards for the batteries that power them.

E-scooters have been legalised in Brisbane, Canberra, and parts of Western Australia.

PROS AND CONS OF MICRO-DEVICES

They are a sustainable, efficient and cost-effective form of transportation that has seen a marked increase in popularity in urban and suburban areas.

But, while they may be eco-friendly and cost-effective, the sharp uptake has resulted in increased injury and even death in riders, passengers and pedestrians.

SAFETY RISKS OF MICRO-DEVICES

Many of the safety issues around these devices relate to their illegal use on pedestrian-only paths, roads and illegal modifications that increase the risk of injury through fire or explosion.

Shared e-bikes and e-scooters being discarded and poor rider behaviour have forced some states, like NSW, to act.

While e-mobility offers numerous benefits, it also presents significant safety challenges.

The rise in e-scooter use has been accompanied by an increase in related injuries, placing additional pressure on healthcare systems.

SAFETY DATA BY STATE

Victoria

According to the Monash University’s Accident Research Centre, in the five-year period from January, 1, 2016, to December, 31, 2020, there were “14 deaths reported to an Australian state or territory coroner where an electric e-micromobility device … contributed to the death”. Half of those were related to e-bikes.

In terms of injuries, there were 2778 emergency department presentations between 2017-18 and 2022-23 in Victoria.

Of these, 1680 were e-scooter injuries, 534 e-bike injuries, and 564 from self-balancing devices.

Injuries in all three e-micromobility modes were more common in males than females.

The highest injury rates for e-scooters and e-bikes were in adolescents and young adults 15 to 24 years of age.

New South Wales

Since e-scooter trials were introduced in late 2022, only 0.002 per cent of a total of 451,437 trips have resulted in incidents, including nine serious and zero critical.

A report by St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney found more than 500 e-bike riders wound up in emergency rooms requiring critical care as a result of a road incident between 2022-24.

The vehicles also present a risk for younger demographics, with two Sydney hospitals recording a spike in incidents involving children in 2024.

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick recorded 48 cases of injuries related to e-bikes and e-scooters, with five children injured after being hit as a pedestrian by an e-bike or e-scooter.

Queensland

Cases presenting to 30 Queensland emergency departments have increased to 150 per month, up from 100 per month two years ago, data from the Jamieson Trauma Institute which shows.

The research, funded by the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital Foundation and Royal Automobile Club of Queensland, will form the basis of a submission to the state government’s inquiry into e-transport safety.

Private e-scooter riders now make up two-thirds of e-scooter hospital presentations and data shows:

• Riders tend to travel at higher speeds and on roads frequently for weekday work-related commutes

• They are regular riders and often wear helmets

• They sustain more severe injuries

• A higher proportion require ambulances and admission to hospital

• Severe facial and head injuries have become a major concern for hospitals

• In Townsville the number of e-scooter injuries presenting to EDs jumped to 413 in 2024 from 265 in 2023.

Northern Territory

According to a Charles Darwin University research paper in late 2022, injuries from electric scooters in Darwin cost the medical system more than $350,000 in eight months.

The report stated many patients experienced head injuries and limb injuries, with a significant number of whom needed to be admitted to hospital.

The study found that half of the patients were intoxicated while riding their scooters, even though it is illegal to ride while intoxicated.

The NT Department for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics has said the NT government is considering options for the longer-term regulation of e-scooters.

While e-mobility offers numerous benefits, it also presents significant safety challenges. Picture: Julian Andrews

FATALITIES

An 18-year-old rider died from head injuries after crashing an electric scooter on the Flinders Highway in Townsville, Qld, on June 1, 2025. The teen from Mount Louisa was taken to hospital in a critical condition but later died.

A 32-year-old woman was killed in central NSW on March 1, 2025, when her e-scooter hit a ute along the Great Western Highway in Lithgow.

DEADLY BLAZES AND BATTERY RISKS

Road accidents aren’t the only cause for concern. Electric mobility devices are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which have become notorious for starting a spate of fires.

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRSNW) has responded to 52 battery fire-related incidents in 2025, a number expected to increase as more reports come in from responding fire stations.

Almost 50 per cent of reported battery fires were caused by micromobility devices, which include e-bikes and e-scooters.

International student Haidar Ali died after being trapped in his bedroom in a blaze sparked by a lithium-ion battery.

FRNSW found an incompatible charger was powering the student’s e-bike, located in his bedroom, and the battery’s overheating likely caused the inferno.

The lithium-ion batteries commonly found in e-scooters and e-bikes contain a highly flammable solvent, which makes them prone to bursting into flames if damaged or overheated.

Just two weeks prior, emergency services responded to four separate e-bike and e-scooter explosions in Sydney within a 12-hour period, prompting them to issue a warning to the public about charging e-bikes and e-scooters as well as the dangers of modifying or repairing the vehicles.

On February 1, the state government introduced new safety standards for lithium-ion micromobility devices. The changes were introduced to ensure only safe and compliant products were for sale to reduce the risk of fires.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN CONCERNS?

• Modifying e-bikes illegally can lead to fire, explosion or electric shock

• E-bike conversion kits contain lithium-ion batteries that can fail and cause a fire, explosion or electric shock

• Use products that have been altered or modified that can lead to the above

NEW SOUTH WALES

A 2024 inquiry recommended safety standards to reduce lithium-ion battery fires, an education campaign for riders, government investment in infrastructure and better design of shared paths.

Since the inquiry, the Minns Government has been drafting several key rules and regulations that could apply to e-micromobility devices and their use.

These include:

• Reviewing the definition of an e-bike and potential for footpath riding in the NSW Road Rules

• Establishing safety standards and risk-based protocols to reduce the likelihood of battery fires

• Product safety requirements for lithium-ion e-micromobility devices

• Rider and road user education including new voluntary tests, campaigns, and updates to in-school road safety education programs and the Driver Knowledge Test online

• Consideration of appropriate fines

• Improving future design of shared paths in collaboration with NSW Police

• Improved e-bike and e-scooter data collection aimed at improving safety outcomes

The proposed changes have been informed by:

• Rules being tested as part of the NSW shared e-scooter trials past and present since 2023

• Trial data and independent evaluation

• Data and lessons learned from other states and jurisdictions where it is legal for people to ride e-scooters

• Road safety research and evidence

BATTERY AND CHARGING REGULATIONS

Standards were introduced on February 1, 2025, requiring the lithium-ion batteries on e-micromobility devices sold in NSW to comply with prescribed safety standards.

E-SCOOTERS

It is currently illegal to ride a personal e-scooter (an e-scooter that you own) on NSW roads or paths.

Privately-owned e-scooters can only be used on private property and significant fines apply.

However, trials have been held in several regions across the state since 2023 where shared e-scooter use has been allowed to inform the government’s plan to legalise their use statewide.

SOME OF THE PROPOSED NEW RULES

• Minimum riding age of 16 to independently ride a shared e-scooter

• Riding under adult supervision is permitted for children aged 12 to 16

The same safety rules apply as with riding a bike:

• Mandatory helmet use

• No mobile phone use

• E-scooters must have a warning bell and lights for night riding

■ If e-scooters are legalised in NSW their use will be limited to shared paths, with a default speed limit of 10-20kmh and a 20km/h speed limit on roads that are signposted at 50km/h and below.

E-BIKES

Proposed changes to regulations will include introducing a formal definition of an e-bike within NSW’s road rules.

The new definition of legal e-bikes will stipulate they must primarily be powered by the rider using the bike’s pedals. Currently, the motor can’t provide more than 200W of additional power.

The NSW Government is not proposing any new speed limits for e-bikes.

E-bikes that comply with requirements in the Road Rules are defined as ‘bicycles’ and the same rules and responsibilities apply to riders of an e-bike as a traditional bicycle.

Police will be tasked with enforcing the new rules and will work with the government to determine penalties for breaches.

FAT BIKES

In NSW, “fat bikes” will fall under the definition of legal e-bikes provided they have not been modified.

QUEENSLAND

Queensland introduced new rules and increased penalties around the use of personal mobility devices (PMDs) in November 2022.

In Qld, PMDs include e-scooters, skateboards and self-balancing devices such as solo wheels and Segways.

Riders must comply with speed limits sign posted and, where there is no appropriate speed signage, be limited to:

• 12km/h on footpaths, shared paths, and crossings

• 25km/h on permitted local roads and dedicated bike paths and bike lanes

• 10km/h in shared zones or specified path speed limits

Riders can continue to ride on:

• Footpaths, shared and separated paths, and bike paths

• Local streets with a speed restriction of 50km/h or less and without dividing lines, median strips, or one-way roadways with only one clearly defined lane

• Bike lanes on streets with a speed limit of 50km/h

• Physically-separated bike lanes

ACT

Since 2019, the ACT has deemed e-scooters and other personal mobility e-scooters as legal transport if they comply with the following:

• An electric motor must power the PMD

• It should only carry a single person.

• It must not exceed 60kg.

• IT should include one or more wheels.

• The device must have a braking system.

• It must have a 25km/hr max speed.

• It must have dimensions of 1,250mm (L) x 700mm (W) x 1,350mm (H)

• If your device meets these criteria, you may use your e-scooter in public.

Traffic rules for PMDs:

• Legal on footpaths, shared paths, bicycle paths, and the bicycle side of separated paths

Speed Limits

• 15km/hr for footpaths

• 25km/hr for shared paths, bicycle paths, and the bicycle side of separated paths

• 10km/hr when approaching or travelling across a crossing

• Must wear a helmet and use lights and reflectors when riding at night and in bad weather conditions

• Must have a warning device

NORTHERN TERRITORY

You can only use e-scooters in public places if they’re provided by Beam Mobility Australia.

To hire and ride an e-scooter, you must:

• be at least 18 years old

• wear an approved bike helmet that is securely fitted

• only ride on footpaths and shared paths and bicycle lanes, unless prohibited

• keep to the left

• give way to any pedestrians.

You can only travel on a road for a distance of less than 50m if:

• there is an obstruction on a footpath, nature strip, or shared path

• it is impracticable to travel on the adjacent area.

You must also not:

• carry passengers or use a mobile phone

• have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05 or more

• take them on public transport or outside of areas permitted by authorities.

For your safety, scooters are also:

• speed limited to 15 km/h

• fitted with an electronic warning device eg. bell

• fitted with front and rear lights which must be operating for use at night.

TASMANIA

Safety rules include:

• You can ride your e-scooter on footpaths, shared paths, bike paths, and certain local roads with speed limits of 50 km/h or less and no dividing lines or multiple lanes on one-way streets.

• However, carrying passengers or animals is not permitted.

• On shared paths and footpaths, you must maintain a safe distance from others, and keep left except when overtaking or impractical.

• Riders must be 16 or older unless using a low-powered e-scooter under supervision.

•Safety equipment includes an approved helmet and lights for night riding.

• Speed limits are 15 km/h on footpaths and 25km/h on shared paths, bike paths, and roads. •Using a mobile phone while riding and riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

In WA an electric rideable device is called an eRideable that:

• has at least one wheel

• is designed for one person

• doesn’t go faster than 25km/h on level ground

• weighs 25kg or less

• is no more than 125cm long, 70cm wide and 135cm high

■ Examples include eScooters, eSkateboards, hoverboards, eSkates, and eUnicycles.

Other devices such as mobility scooters, motorised wheelchairs, or low-powered motorised scooters for children are not considered eRideables and are covered by their own rules.

RULES AND SAFETY

• Speed limited to 10km/h on footpaths and pedestrian crossings

• Speed limit up to 25km/h (where safe) on and bicycle paths, shared paths and local roads

• One person per device

• Cannot carry animals or lead animals while using

• Mandatory use of an approved helmet

• At least one hand on the steering at all times

• Don’t drink and ride

• The same drink and drug driving laws apply to riders as to licenced drivers.

• Leave eRideable in a safe location out of the way of other users

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

In South Australia, there are 2 categories of power-assisted bicycles that can be legally used on roads:

Power-assisted pedal cycles, which have an electric motor(s) with a combined maximum power output of up to 200 watts and are not propelled by only the motors.

Electrically power-assisted cycles, which have a maximum continuous electric power output not exceeding 250 watts and are not propelled only by the motor.

For legal use on SA roads, the power-assisted bicycle must comply with the following.

Power-assisted pedal cycles

• Maximum power output cannot exceed 200 watts

• Tare weight less than 50kg including any batteries

• Have a height adjustable seat

Electrically power-assisted cycles

• Maximum continuous power of 250 watts that reduces as the travel speed increases above 6 km/h

• Power cut off at 25 km/h or when speed exceeds 6 km/h when the rider is not pedalling

• Riders are bound by the same rules as cyclists and must:

• Wear a helmet

• Have effective brakes

• Have a bell, or another audible warning device

• Use rear-facing red reflector at night and a white light to the front and a red light to the rear at night (both may flash) clearly visible from at least 200 metres

More on South Australian rules.

Originally published as Changing rules for e-bikes and e-scooters: Your rights and what’s legal