The Andrews Labor Government is extending the e-scooter trial across Victoria under strict conditions to ensure the safety of riders, drivers and all road users.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne today announced the e-scooter trial will be extended for six months and will now include the use of private e-scooters.
More than 3.7 million short trips have been taken on e-scooters in Melbourne, alongside more than 200,000 in Ballarat, throughout the trial.
Data from the trial shows the main reason people hire a trial e-scooter is for leisure, social outings, commuting or to visit cafes, reducing congestion and carbon emissions - with around 400 tonnes of carbon avoided through e-scooter use.
The Labor Government is taking steps to ensure the community uses e-scooters in a responsible way during the trial extension with the following rules in place:
- Riders must wear a helmet, be at least 16 years of age and adhere to the same blood alcohol content (BAC) and drug use restrictions as drivers. Riders cannot consume alcohol while travelling on an e-scooter.
- E-scooters can only be used on roads with a speed limit of 60 kilometres or less. They can be ridden on roads, in bicycle lanes, on bicycle paths or separated and shared paths - but not on footpaths.
- E-scooters cannot travel above 20 kilometres per hour.
- Devices capable of exceeding 25 kilometres per hour are not classified as e-scooters and are still illegal.
To keep everyone safe, e-scooter riders must also not carry passengers, ride two abreast, use a mobile phone or lead an animal on their e-scooter. Victoria Police will be enforcing the safe use of e-scooters.
Further work will be carried out throughout the trial extension to understand product safety standards, rider education and if any changes to penalties are required.
E-scooter share schemes will be able to operate with the approval of local councils - with the schemes in Ballarat, Yarra, Port Philip and Melbourne expected to continue.
The trial extension will come into effect on 5 April.For more information about e-scooter use and the trial extension visit: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/escootersExternal Link
As stated by Minister for Road and Road Safety Melissa Horne
"We know e-scooters are popular with many Victorians - so we're extending the trial in Victoria under these strict regulations to ensure people travel responsibly and safely."
"Riders should always wear a helmet, stick to the speed limit, only ride on roads under 60km/h - and never ride on the footpath or with another person."
