E-scooter rules and fines

Rules and increased fines have been introduced for riders of e-scooters, e-skateboards and similar devices that aim to make riders and everyone they interact with safer.

Visit Streetsmarts Qld for a quick and easy to understand existing rules, including:

• Lower speed limits of 12km/h on footpaths and shared paths, and 25km/h max elsewhere unless signed otherwise.
• Increased fines for mobile phone use (more than $1100).
• Increased fines for speeding and riding on prohibited roads.
• Mandatory helmets (bicycle or motorcycle) and bells for devices with handlebars.
• Age limits:
  • Only those aged 16+ can ride e-scooters and e-skateboards.
  • 12–15-year-olds can only ride with adult supervision. Adult supervisors must have close direct oversight of the juvenile PMD rider at all times to provide direction, guidance and potential intervention.
  • Primary school aged children, under 12 years, shouldn’t be riding e-scooters or e-skateboards. They can ride low powered electric scooters, which have a maximum speed of 10 km/h or less and are powered by a small electric motor capable of producing 200W or less. These are considered wheeled recreational devices and have a separate set of rules to PMDs. More information is available on the Department of Transport and Main Roads website.
• No passengers – one person only at a time per scooter.
• Where to ride:
  • Paths – footpaths, shared paths, separated paths and bike paths
  • Local streets (speed limit of 50km/h or less, no dividing centre line)
  • On-road bike lanes (where the road speed limit is 50km/h or less, or where the lane is physically separated from the road).

The website features new videos demonstrating where you can ride e-scooters and at what speeds, as well as other helpful safety tips.

Visit StreetsmartsQld for more details.