New South Wales (NSW) Transport Minister Jo Haylen is rallying behind a push to legalise e-scooters in the state despite concerns from the public.
Statistics released by the government reveal 1 million residents in Australia’s most populous state have ridden an e-scooter, while there are 570,000 e-bikes and 459,000 e-scooters in homes.
Despite these e-scooters being widely available in NSW, they are unable to be used on public streets.
“It’s a big win for everyone, we just have a bit more work to do to get the balance right,” she said.
Riding E-Scooters in NSW Not Actually Legal
Haylen added only 22 percent of NSW residents were aware that it was illegal to ride e-scooters on roads and streets.
“It’s a strange regulatory blind spot, and it has to change,” she said.
This would include a requirement to wear a bike helmet ,and be at least 16 years of age to ride an e-scooter.
“The Action Plan will help NSW realise the benefits of increased e-micromobility use, including reducing people’s need to drive short trips and find parking,” the government said.
“These devices will also make train stations, jobs, services and retail precincts easier to access, while also responding to issues and community concerns about e-bikes and e-scooters.”
Safety Concerns Flagged in Parliamentary Inquiry
The Parliament of NSW is conducting an inquiry into the use of personal mobility devices from Oct. 29 to Oct. 31.The Pedestrian Council noted that in NSW police do not have the right to conduct random breath tests on these riders.
“A recent study by the Royal Melbourne Hospital found that 58 percent of e-Scooter rider admissions were intoxicated. This does not include illicit drugs” the submission stated.
“A study from researchers at Broome Hospital has found there were 190 e-scooter-related injuries at the West Australian tourist town in 12 months. The study found 76 percent of patients were Broome residents, 53 percent of whom said they were intoxicated while riding.”
Further, the Council raised concerns about risk to the elderly and potential falls.
“The highest cause of avoidable death after 50 years of age is from a fall. The idea that riders can now ride on footpaths and shared paths on vehicles weighing as much as 60 kilograms, with little or no enforcement, and at the same speed limit as the adjacent road defies imagination,” the submission said.
Meanwhile, former Liberal Northern Beaches councillor and police officer Pat Daley said the mobility tools needed to be registered.
“However these fat wheeled e-bikes which are driven like motorbikes on our footpaths at speed, are causing much grief and anxiety particularly for seniors. They need to be registered just like motor scooters and they also need to be regulated. Enough is enough.”
In Victoria, the City of Melbourne banned e-scooter operators in August due to concerns they posed a daily safety risk.
