Yes, Victoria - it happened!
Late in March, the Victorian government announced that it is extending its e-scooter trials to allow the use of private electric scooters on public roads. We've joined forward-thinking states such as Queensland, Tasmania, & Western Australia, and this is a huge step for us.
While this is a 6-month trial, we're confident this change will stay, but there's some work to do to make sure the government continues to see the value e-scooters present Victorians & the Victorian economy.
Let's take a look at what this change means for you.
First Off, What's Changed?
Up until April 5th, privately owned electric scooters were banned state-wide through a contradictory set of laws designed to govern motor vehicles. If the motor was over 250W, e-scooters had to be registered, but because they don't have compliance plates, they couldn't be registered. Only rental e-scooters were legal, and private e-scooters were limited to use on private property only.
From April 5th, some privately-owned electric scooters will be legal on public roads. Here's how that is going to work.
Where is The Trial Taking Place?
Unlike the rental scooter trial, which is limited to specific council regions, private electric scooters will be legal to use on public roads across the whole state of Victoria.
Where Can You Ride?
E-Scooters will be legal to ride on:
- roads with a speed limit of 60 kph and under,
- bicycle lanes,
- shared footpaths (where pedestrians & bikes are allowed),
Where Can't You Ride?
- Roads with a speed limit higher than 60 kph,
- Pedestrian only areas.
Do You Have To Wear a Helmet?
Yes. Asides from being generally good advice for riding any sort of personal transport, it is a legal requirement to wear a helmet. The majority of serious e-scooter injuries are caused because of crashes in which the rider was not wearing a helmet. You may have an awesome hairdo, but suck it up and wear a lid.
Can You Drink & Ride?
Just like any other form of transport, stay off the sauce & other narcotics if you're riding. You have a significantly greater chance of causing or being involved in an accident, and if you get caught riding under the influence, you could still lose your license to drive.
Can I Carry Passengers?
No passengers allowed. Most e-scooters are only rated to effectively carry between 100 - 130 kg of weight, and going over that is a great way of cooking the motor. Asides from that, it throws off your balance and is really unsafe as a result. Maybe get your friend to buy their own e-scooter instead...?
Can I Ride On Pavements?
Pavements will be off limits for e-scooters. Safety is paramount with electric scooters, so you won't be able to ride down pavements or through pedestrian-only areas.
Using Phones While Riding
Similar to cars and bikes, you won't be able to use your phone or mobile devices while riding. This is a little different from having a phone in a e-scooter phone cradle. This refers to actually having your phone in your hand, or interacting with it in any way while riding.
Is There a Speed Limit?
Riders must respect a state-wide speed limit of 20 kph when riding on public roads and shared footpaths. Of course, scooters used on private land don't have to adhere to this speed limit.
Are There Any Restrictions On The Scooters Themselves?
At the moment, the only restrictions placed on the actual scooters themselves is that they can't be capable of going more than 25 kph. It's not clear how this will be enforced or measured, but there are a handful of e-scooters that can be factory-locked to limit their speed to 25kph such as the Segway range of e-scooters.
At the moment, this is the only restriction.
Take a look at our recommendations of e-scooters you can buy right now from Electric Kicks that'll get you around without issue.
Ride Safe
Safety is a priority for Electric Kicks, the Victorian government, and the majority of our e-scooter riders. E-Scooters can be a lot of fun, but they serve a wider purpose in our society. Following the rules is a great way of keeping you safe, and maintaining the safety of others around you. Wear your helmet, respect speed limits, ride sober, stay off your phone, and don't carry passengers.
A safe e-scooter ride is a good e-scooter ride.
What E-Scooters Can I Ride?
Here are the e-scooters from our inventory that meet all the legal requirements for use in Victoria:
Segway-Ninebot F65
Price: $1,399
Top Speed: 25 kph (factory locked)
A comfortable and well-built ride that includes front & rear indicators. Excellent value for money, and will meet the needs of most urban commuters.
Segway-Ninebot G65
Price: $1,599
Speed: 25 kph (factory locked)
One of Segway's newest e-scooters, and the first of the Ninebot Max range to incorporate front & rear suspension. Self-healing tyres, a high rider weight limit and a more stable ride make this a very solid e-scooter for getting around town.
Segway-Ninebot P65
Price: $1,899 (factory locked version)
Speed: 25 kph (factory locked)
The P65 is an excellent scooter. It looks great. It handles well. It has a bunch of technology that makes you go "ooh, that's cool." We love it. So will you.
Segway-Ninebot P100
Price: $2,799 (factory locked version)
Speed: 25 kph (factory locked)
To date, the P100 is our favourite e-scooter. It has everything you get on the P65 mentioned above, plus it comes with front & rear suspension, making it an incredibly comfortable ride.
Segway-Ninebot F40
Price: $999
Speed: 30 kph (can be locked to 25 kph)
The F40 has been a staple of our e-scooter range since it launched. It's an excellent introduction to e-scooters at an amazing price. Lightweight and easy-to use, it goes great when combined with public transport to get around town.
The Responsibility Is On Us
Like most things, there will always be a select group of d*ckheads that ruin the fun for everyone else. We've all seen them. Riding without a helmet. Breaking the speed limit while terrorizing pedestrians on narrow pavements. Carrying passengers while over the limit, or riding with one hand. This is inevitable and these fun-wreckers will continue to ride amongst us.
Victoria, it's time to come together and show our government that the vast majority of us are responsible enough to make this change work long term. As a segment of society, most of us ride respectfully & safely, and can be trusted to promote the safe integration of e-scooters into our wider society.
It's taken us a while to get here. Don't f*ck this up.