Exciting news for e-scooter enthusiasts in Victoria! The e-scooter shared-scheme trial has been extended for another 6 months, and from April 5th, privately owned e-scooters can be used under strict trial rules across Victoria.
The trial of hire e-scooters in Ballarat and Melbourne was conducted to understand the safety implications of the transport mode, and now they will be monitoring how both hire and private e-scooters are being used.
The rules for privately owned e-scooters are simple: you must ride on shared-use paths and roads up to and including 60km/h, be over 16 years old, wear a helmet, not ride while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, ride up to a maximum speed of 20km/h, and not use your mobile phone or carry a passenger. Furthermore, you cannot ride on footpaths or use high-speed e-scooters that are capable of more than 25km/h.
To keep everyone safe, e-scooter riders must not carry passengers or animals, have proper control at all times, use a warning to avert danger, not ride two abreast, give way to pedestrians, and not lead an animal.
The trial found that e-scooters are a popular way to get around and there is a high demand from Victorians to be able to use them. Although the trial provided a significant amount of information, they need to ensure that e-scooters can be safely incorporated into the transport network on a long-term basis. Extending the trial with privately owned electric scooters will provide additional data to evaluate and inform future regulations.
In Victoria, there are about 100,000 e-scooters that are privately owned, and over the next six months, they will monitor how hire and private e-scooters are being used to ensure that the rules and regulations that are in place are fit-for-purpose and can effectively handle any safety concerns that may arise.
Their number one priority is the safety of everyone who uses roads in Victoria. So, let's ride safely and responsibly!
e-scooters in Victoria - Summary of trial findings March 2023
