E-scooters to be allowed on some streets, paths in NSW government proposal

E-scooters could soon be allowed on paths and suburban roads in one Aussie state for the first time under long-awaited reforms.

E-scooters could soon become legal to ride on shared paths and suburban roads in NSW, after the state government revealed its long-awaited plan to reform the state’s road regulation.

An inquiry held by the NSW Legislative Council recommended in its final report earlier this year that “significant and urgent reform” be undertaken in regard to the use of e-bikes, e-scooters, and mobility devices in the state.

An inquiry held by the NSW Legislative Council recommended “significant and urgent reform” to the state’s mobility device laws. Picture: NewsWire/Monique Harmer

Laws around use of mobility devices are currently somewhat opaque, with the committee having made 34 recommendations including reducing speed limits to 30km for all vehicles and allowing their use on footpaths.

NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said there were about 1.3 million e-mobility devices already on the NSW network, despite it only being legal in the state to buy an e-scooter – riding one, meanwhile, had been illegal.

NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison says the government’s response is about “getting the balance right”. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

“We need to ensure that we are using them properly and safely, and that we are balancing the cost of living and environmental and congestion benefits with the very important safety issues that can be caused,” she said.

“Our response is about getting the balance right so that we can protect the community, but also understand and address the reality that we’ve got.

“If we look at this whole scenario, we have had a very methodical approach.”

Ms Aitchison admitted it was “unrealistic” to tell e-scooter riders they cannot use them, or to “expect people are just going to leave them in their sheds”, saying there was agreeance on the need for regulation and education.

So far, the NSW government is only presenting its response to the inquiry, which was due on Tuesday and which Ms Aitchison said saw the government support the majority of the NSW Legislative Council’s findings.

Legislation will be put to parliament later this year.

E-scooters could soon become legal to ride on shared paths and suburban roads in NSW. Picture NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Ms Aitchison said the state government had undertaken trials into the use of e-mobility devices, and had also looked to other jurisdictions in regard to how they have legislated the use of such devices on roads and paths.

Under the proposal, e-scooters will be permitted on shared paths, but not footpaths zoned exclusively for pedestrians.

They will also be allowed on roads with a speed limit up 50km, but would be limited to travelling at 20kms.

Under the proposed rules, e-scooter use will be limited to independent riders over the age of 16.

The proposal does not outline any new speed limits for e-bikes.

The final letter of the Bill would follow consultation with police and with Transport for NSW.

The state government is not looking at a registration scheme, and certain modified e-bikes will remain illegal.

Legalising e-scooters on shared paths and suburban roads would bring NSW in line with most other Australian states.

Originally published as E-scooters to be allowed on some streets, paths in NSW government proposal