New e scooter rules and increased penalties came into effect on Tuesday, 1 November 2022 in Queensland for electric scooters, electric skateboards & unicycles.
E Scooter riders will now be mandated by law to take a slower, safer pace on footpaths, so if you're planning on "scootering" to work today, you should read on.
The changes
- 12kph speed limits on footpaths and shared paths, unless otherwise signed. The 25kph limit remains for all other bike paths and roads.
- Increasing fines for dangerous offenses involving speed, illegal road use, and holding a mobile phone while riding.
- Allowing e-scooter users to access bike paths on roads with a speed limit of 50km/h, and any on-road bike lane that is physically separated.
- Mandating bells on e-scooters.
- All electric scooters, unicycles & electric skateboard riders will now be required to follow general road rules, including stopping at red lights, and they must equip their devices with a bell".
- Users between 12 and 16 years of age must still ride a device with adult supervision. It is illegal for under-12s to ride an e-scooter device on Queensland roads
The fines
Exceed the speed limit by:
- 1-13km/h = $143
- 14-20km/h = $215
- 20-30km/h = $359
- >30km/h = $575
Doubling (riding with two or more people) = $143
Holding a phone = $1078
Drinking alcohol while riding = $431
Using a scooter on a prohibited road = $172
Ride without a helmet = $143
Where you can ride your e scooters
When you ride an electric scooter, electric skateboard or unicycle you must always:
- keep left and give way to pedestrians
- travel at the right speed for where you are
- travel at a safe distance from a pedestrian so you can avoid a collision
- keep left of oncoming bicycles and other personal mobility devices.
Paths
- Footpaths — 12km/h maximum
- Shared paths —12km/h maximum, *unless signed otherwise
- Separated paths (for example, by bollards or a raised median strip)—25km/h maximum, *unless signed otherwise
- Bicycle paths — 25km/h maximum, *unless signed otherwise
*unless signed otherwise - You can contact your local council to find out if there are any local laws that apply to the use of your electric scooter, electric skateboard or unicycle.
Roads
- Bike lanes on roads with a speed limit of 50km/h or less
- 25km/h maximum
- obey speed limits lower than 25km/h
- Any bike lane that is physically separated from other lanes of traffic (for example by bollards or raised median strips), 25km/h maximum, obey speed limits lower than 25km/h
- Local streets (50km/h or less and no dividing line), 25km/h maximum, obey speed limits lower than 25km/h.
Wait, where you not meant to ride on the road before?
Under the old Queensland E Scooter rules, e-scooters were classified as pedestrians and were not allowed to be ridden on roads.
Andrew Mahon from the department of transport said "electric scooter users will now be allowed to ride in bike lanes on roads with a speed limit of 50kph or less, as well as on-road bike lanes that are physically separated".
Mr Mahon said "riders will now be required to follow general road rules, including stopping at red lights, and must equip their devices with a bell".
Ride safely Queensland, feel free to ride or pop by any of our Queensland Scooter Hut Store.
Checkout our fantastic range of E Scooters perfect for riding in Queensland.
