this post was submitted on 13 May 2025

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NSW to legalise e-scooters on paths and roads up to 20km/h for those over 16 (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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This seems like a sensible but odd carveout. The law is essentially legalising e-scooters on shared paths, and bike lanes on roads with no more than 20km/h. The proposition does not allow them on footpaths, which you’d think would be the most relevant place. Personally, I’m surprised they wouldn’t allow them on footpaths but no more than 5 km/h in heavy pedestrian areas (anywhere a car would have to do 40 km/h or less), especially since you could potentially require shared e-scooters to enforce this speed with GPS.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Slowly catching up with the times, classic NSW though having to be different to everyone else and make it 20km/h rather than 25.

Really should be allowed on footpaths (maybe with lower limit) but I guess small steps are better than the current situation where they're illegal but mainly ignored. The ACT allows both escooters and bicycles on the footpath and this works fine, so take claims it'd be super dangerous with a large serving of salt.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago

Considering NSW and Victoria are still a century behind the times when it comes to allowing even normal bikes onto footpaths, I wouldn't be holding my breath here.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The proposition does not allow them on footpaths, which you’d think would be the most relevant place.

It's consistent with the current laws for bikes and ebikes, which are allowed on shared paths but not footpaths.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What's a shared path?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

In Victoria, there's a number of paths designated for both pedestrians and cyclists. They're incredibly shit for both parties IMO. Kids, dogs and idiots ruin the experience, I prefer to cycle on the road with cars who are more predictable and follow the rules better. We really need to be building separate walking and a bike/microtransit paths.

I assume it's the same in Sydney but I have no experience there.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

Shared paths are good on low volume recreational paths. For serious commuting or paths where there's large numbers of people, they're shit.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

They’re not too bad in my part of Sydney, though you do get the occasional teenager or delivery rider zooming through on an e-bike that has probably had the limiter removed/bypassed.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

That 20km/host rule is going to make selecting a legal one for personal use a PITA.

A smaller market segment within a small segment.

Trying to get a decent one that doesn't weigh over 25kg is very challenging here in WA.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

It always made me laugh how many escooters I already see around the local suburbs. Though, apparently they were/are illegal.

Seem like a good,.portable transportation option that can help with the 'last mile' problem.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

They are good for multi-modal transport in particular, since you still can't take bikes on buses (at least not in NSW). Hopefully that will change in the future, too.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Keep as many e-scooters, e-bikes, e-whatevers off the walking paths. They're for walking, not swarms of scooters weaving through pedestrians.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago

Some jackass kid almost ran over a toddler in the walking path at a local park near me when I was last there. Kid riding it was nowhere near 16. Why parents think it's Ok to give their kids essentially a motorcycle to drive around with no license is beyond me.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What's the data on e-scooter accidents + fatalities vs driving? Because if it's even close, I would support any legislation that makes e-scooters more accessible

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I don't have data to base this on but would place decent bets on it being noticeably more dangerous than driving for the individual riding the scooter and noticeably less dangerous for anyone they run into. The rate would depend on how you measure accidents though - per kilometre would be a lot worse than per trip.

Escooters aren't really good vehicles for rider safety - small wheels (often with no suspension), unstable geometry, and a riding position with limited ability to brace oneself means you do have to be careful. It does require a solid readjustment coming from my dirt bike in particular (where hopping 20-30cm logs is easy) onto the scooter where hitting a little tree root raised bit of tar at 25km/h will just about throw you off the thing.

They are definitely convenient and fun though, it's a good thing that NSW is finally moving to allow them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

One thing I noticed about them when I was visiting Perth is how silent they are. When people are using them on footpaths, I as a pedestrian had almost no indication that there's one about to pass from behind unless the rider speaks up. So turning or stopping on footpaths felt quite dangerous. Almost got hit by one when I was trying to walk into a shop and someone whizzed by. Maybe if they're more common around Sydney I'd learn how to notice them better but that experience scared me a bit.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Roads and footpaths aren't designed with anything in mind except for cars. That's why they are more dangerous. The rental escooters in Christchurch have bigger wheels, suspension, and one brand is three wheeled.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

I'd hold off on that until they have half a shot at enforcing the 16 part and basic safety. Seriously, require licenses for those motor vehicles. Someone I know had to give first aid when two teens crashed into a parked car and came out with asphalt grazes on their face. Luckily, one of them had a helmet!

I fear that scooter money and shitty government means someone will die before we get the laws we need to protect riders and those around them.