Private E-Scooters Will Be Legal in Victoria from April 5

AsukaST on 30/03/2023 - 01:48
Last edited 30/03/2023 - 12:27 by 1 other user

Edit: it's official! Private e scooter will be legal in VIC!

Anyone aged over 16 and wearing a helmet will be allowed to travel on e-scooters in bicycle lanes and shared paths, or on roads with a speed limit of 60km/h or less.

The scooters are not allowed on footpaths and must not travel at more than 20km/h, while only one person is allowed on board at a time.

E-scooters capable of travelling at more than 25km/h remain banned.

https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/e-scoo…

Just heard this from the news. Finally!
Not sure if it's only allowed within the trial areas or on all Vic roads.
Will wait for the announcement today and see.

I own one but only ride on it once or twice a month, with bicycle helmet on, not on pedestrian pathways and under 25km/h.
Will probably ride more when it finally be legal :D

Automotive Electric Scooter

Comments

  • Empharand on 30/03/2023 - 01:52

    Roads Minister Melissa Horne will on Thursday announce a six-month extension to the trial with scooter hire companies Lime and Neuron, which have deployed 2500 scooters across the Melbourne, Yarra and Port Phillip council areas

    Sounds like it's just an extension within the abovementioned areas… unfortunately.

    • AsukaST on 30/03/2023 - 01:54

      The scooter hire trial will be extended for 6 months. That's for sure.
      For private e-scooter, details unclear yet.

  • PensionerXXL on 30/03/2023 - 03:07
    +4

    nice they make crossing the road easier when they come off them and become human speed bumps, love it in the CBD :)

    • cookie2 on 30/03/2023 - 06:58

      Imo CBD is probably the worst place to trial it if you want to see real world usage because the majority of Melbourne suburbs are nothing like the cbd. But I guess it gives some worst case data. You're also trialing with an increased number of single use users, rather than people who own and use it regularly and are more motivated to look after it.

  • GnarlyKnuckles on 30/03/2023 - 04:20
    +7

    For all legal intents and purposes, I don't know why 'e-scooters' aren't just lumped in with/subject to all the same rules as 'e-bikes'.

    • foxpants on 03/04/2023 - 14:59

      This, it's strange to subclassify them and savagely curtail the laws around them.

  • cookie2 on 30/03/2023 - 06:54

    Are electric scooters allowed to be used on a footpath? Like mobility scooters?

    • AustriaBargain on 30/03/2023 - 08:17
      +2

      Dunno, but it would be nice if they could detect they were on a footpath and automatically limit themselves to a sensible speed.

    • Keplaffintech on 30/03/2023 - 09:13
      +2

      no

  • lostgoat on 30/03/2023 - 07:09

    I have no doubt a few serious incidents of grannies being bowled over will eventually put pressure on them . Abd yes I've seen how cowboy some people ride them .

    • Clear on 30/03/2023 - 07:55

      There's often a big difference between bogans on rentals and private riders.

  • Clear on 30/03/2023 - 07:54
    +1

    jv will still be against it.

  • Sinnerator on 30/03/2023 - 08:17
    +1

    you don't need to get stabbed on public transport now

    • AustriaBargain on 30/03/2023 - 08:18
      +3

      No one will believe you even visited Melbourne if you don't come back with a stab wound or bullet hole.

      • Baysew on 30/03/2023 - 11:16

        Only Peter Dutton.

  • apple2016 on 30/03/2023 - 11:11

    Details from Vic Roads - https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/e-scoo…

    it’s not a high-speed e-scooter – capable of more than 25km/h (this is considered an unregistered vehicle and penalties apply)

    Also not sure how this is policed!

  • Protractor on 30/03/2023 - 13:02
    -4

    More injuries to pedestrians, more e-scooter riders dragged under cars and/or catapulted across the intersection.
    Funny how electric cars are being forced to 'make noise' and e scooters aren't. So the 'all about safety' myth , is exposed again.

    Ambulance ramping is here to stay.

    • apple2016 on 30/03/2023 - 13:41
      +3

      push bikes make no noise either and they have been around for ages and now power assisted bikes are legal. why should e scooter be any different? most electric cars can do 0-100 in under 5 sec and hence the push to make noise…

      • Protractor on 30/03/2023 - 14:08
        -2

        Pushbikes have bells. In the absence of any other sound,All of these transport options should have them and use them (thoughtfully).Sometimes I can hear a rider on a conventional push bike. (sometimes)

        I have seen all these transport methods in action, and as far as I have witnessed, the e-scooter component are the least respectful / most dangerous. I see pushbikes on shared paths, alerting in some form, taking a wide berth, or warning pedestrians.
        On the other hand escooter riders deliberately NOT slowing down and travelling/passing as close to walkers as they can. Why would they do that?
        Local govts should not even have a bar of them. It's going to become a legal nightmare.escooters negative reputation, (from my observations) are well earned. As a 1st step make all vehicles that are used by adults subject to the owner having comprehensive public liability insurance, for themselves and others/property. As usual the tech is socially immersed before the cops and law can catch up.

        • Clear on 30/03/2023 - 16:30

          Pushbikes have bells

          So does escooters, or in some cases electric horns. Without either they're not allowed just like a bike. If you don't warn people ahead of you who aren't aware of your presence, then you're being an irresponsible tosspot. Most private riders do the right thing anyway. Significantly more than the rental bogans who give them bad names.

          Plus cyclists can't even see their own speed so more often than not they're going faster than they should in areas.

  • Euphemistic on 30/03/2023 - 13:59

    Automotive? Not really, more like Sports and Outdoors

  • misfitt1911 on 30/03/2023 - 14:07
    +2

    Finally! A step in the right direction.

    • Protractor on 30/03/2023 - 15:03

      The irony of that sentence in regards to scooter and pedestrian interfaces

  • Protractor on 30/03/2023 - 14:19
    -1

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-30/victoria-escooter-tri…

    Scooters causing 'nasty, life-changing injuries'

    Royal Melbourne Hospital director of emergency Associate Professor Mark Putland said e-scooter injury presentations had surged alongside their growing popularity.

    "We're seeing probably between 40 and 50 a month, these are significant injuries. So significant life-changing brain injuries, really nasty, nasty, permanent facial injuries, bilateral limb injuries, you know, broken wrists on both sides, broken hands, that sort of thing," Dr Putland said.

    He said accepting e-scooters were growing in popularity and making them safer would help tackle the growing number of injuries.

    "We need to think hard about how we make this thing safe; it doesn't look like they're going away," Dr Putland said.

    "We've had to work hard to make cars and so forth safe, and we've done an extraordinarily good job making them safer and safer over the years."

    • Clear on 30/03/2023 - 16:34
      +2

      Scooters causing 'nasty, life-changing injuries'

      But vehicles are so much worse. Way to single out escooters when the road fatalities in Victoria are at 1187.

      • Protractor on 30/03/2023 - 17:08
        -1

        Of course vehicles are worse. But they pay rego,third party insurance,etc.
        This is an expert talking specifically about the rise in horrific E-COOTER injuries. If they were always only causing harm to the rider, through their own stupidity, we could all go merrily on our way. But they hurt others, and when they hurt themselves, others pick up the bills, wear the grief etc.
        Plenty of pedestrians have gone through 7 or 8 decades of life never having an issue with a vehicle only to be cleaned up by a (profanity) on an escooter, and receive a life changing, life style ending crippling injury.
        Pro rata, their toll is speaking for itself.

        https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/hospitalisations…

        • leiiv on 31/03/2023 - 04:40
          +2

          Skateboards, push scooter, bike, e-bike, all don't pay rego, insurance, etc.
          All legal to use on the footpath.
          I don't see any reason why escooter is singled out. It is easier and safer to use than bikes and cheaper too.
          There are always rogue riders on any mode of transport. They should be held accountable on their own.

        • Clear on 31/03/2023 - 09:14
          +1

          This is an expert talking specifically about the rise in horrific E-COOTER injuries.

          Does it really need to be said why there is a rise in escooter injuries?

          • Protractor on 31/03/2023 - 10:10

            @Clear: Good point. Clearly the users don't listen. Maybe they should fund their own hospitals to cope with the flood?

            @leiiv, I would agree, we could add the other modes of transport,but the problem is the injuries and accidents rate pro rata with e-scooters are way higher. In the short term something that slows the rate of the e-scooter component has to occur. These are 'avoidable' injuries in the main. The health system is bursting as it is. Why should it be overrun by deliberate high risk activities or acts of reckless stupidity?

            • Clear on 31/03/2023 - 10:12
              +1

              @Protractor:

              Good point. Clearly the users don't listen. Maybe they should fund their own hospitals to cope with the flood?

              I work in multiple hospitals and the number of scooter related injuries in our EDs is tiny. The real problem is people who can't afford to see the doctor or can't get into the doctor and come to ED instead since it's free. Then you get the usual druggies who come multiple times a day.

              • Protractor on 31/03/2023 - 10:18

                @Clear: You better read up on the e -scooter stats across the board.I read them yesterday.(multiple artcles) Yes, other layers of morons ALSO abuse the ED system . Migrants seem to be a growing cohort. The rules should change so if you present with a minor or non life threatening injury, you get sent a bill.I get that with kids you can't take the risk, but the lions share of time wasters in ED should pay .Even if it comes out of their tax, or benefits or community service.Of future earnings.

                https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/hospitalisations…

                (Yes there are thousands of bikes involved in crashes, but the pro rata numbers and sudden e scooter spike are driving the reactions)

                • Clear on 31/03/2023 - 10:53
                  +1

                  @Protractor: I refer to this comment again. Of course injuries are up across the board. Why? There's rental scooters now. Why are they higher than 3 years ago? There were no scooters then.

                  Medicare is broken. The hospital system won't change anytime soon.

                  • Protractor on 31/03/2023 - 11:05

                    @Clear: Glad we agree. Stats are right . Injuries are up. And something needs to be done. (users clearly won't drive the safety component) I'm not convinced the laws & regs will even attempt to filter the hire crashes from the non hire crashes ,though. So until everyone gets wrapped in cotton wool, or rules that don't get policed,just be grateful the 'avoidable' injuries seem to be going to all the other EDs. I'm much more concerned for the victims of scooter crashes, than the pilots, but in the end we all pay for the outcomes.
                    The whole thing reeks of cart before the horse to me. Like uber,air bnb etc.
                    None were implemented in an orderly way. Such is life in a world where tech drives society.

                    • dukeGR4 on 19/04/2023 - 23:42

                      @Protractor: you sound like you're just extremely upset and whinging about the fact that it's been legalised with very little value added to the discussion.

                      Now we're actually seeing VicRoads attempting to introduce various ground rules and seeking to enforce them but you're still not happy?

                      • Protractor on 20/04/2023 - 10:53

                        @dukeGR4: Look at Paris. That's the future. Bring it on.

                        Ask the other 90% of the populous now.They suck in the places they impact, "because human behaviour". You just can't regulate out (profanity).
                        Having to choose between "having it with un-policed rules" and mayhem VS "just having them", is not a choice, and it's also after the horse has bolted.
                        I hope we 'really' get asked, (as a community) or I hope they license them as a motor vehicle with all the encumbrances thereof.
                        The green cred is BS. I hope all the Andrews haters on scooters are consistent with the hate of bad policy. Because who knows, maybe he 'made mates decision' on scooters, too.

                  • Tleyx on 21/04/2023 - 14:50

                    @Clear: I had an escooter back in 2010 there were definitely not none around

  • lgacb08 on 30/03/2023 - 14:50

    Great, saw a guy keeping up with traffic at Taylors road on Sunday arvo last week, just a matter of time before he gets the clip.

    • Protractor on 30/03/2023 - 15:30

      Rising car regos pay for his injuries, but not pedestrian injuries. Your rates and tax increases cover that. What did Abbott say about sponsoring lifestyle choices?

  • Ocker on 30/03/2023 - 15:48
    +1

    There should be compulsory 3rd party insurance liability built into the hire costs for the e-scooters and bikes.

    • Protractor on 30/03/2023 - 16:19
      +1

      And private users should also have cover.

    • Clear on 30/03/2023 - 16:35

      There should be compulsory 3rd party insurance liability built into the hire costs for the e-scooters and bikes.

      There has been since day 1. When riding a Beam, Neuron or Lime scooter/ebike you're covered by 3rd party insurance. You can see the whole policy in the app or their website.

      • Ocker on 30/03/2023 - 20:04
        +1

        But only if the renter abides by all conditions of the cover - which in most cases they do not. Hence the insurance is void.

        • AsukaST on 30/03/2023 - 20:36
          +2

          That's the renter's fault.
          It should not be up to people doing the right thing to bear the cost of wrongdoers.

          • Protractor on 31/03/2023 - 10:11

            @AsukaST: "It should not be up to people doing the right thing to bear the cost of wrongdoers."

            Exactly and yet….?

  • Protractor on 02/04/2023 - 17:49

    France isn't that impressed with e-scooters and tourists

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-02/paris-votes-on-bannin…

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