New measures to better regulate e-scooters have been announced by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey said the new laws included lower speeds on footpaths, mandated safety measures, a safety education campaign and clearer signage and markings.
Mr Bailey said this suite of actions would help ensure e-scooter riders, cyclists, motorists and pedestrians could safely share spaces.
“The rising popularity of e-scooters is a clear sign they aren’t going to disappear,” he said.
“People are going to keep using them, so the key is making sure that shared spaces like footpaths and bike lanes are as safe as they can be.
“Immediate action will include the rollout of a proactive safety campaign focussing on the correct way to wear a helmet, how to ride safely, how to overtake pedestrians safely and how to park to keep the footpath clear for people with disabilities.”
Mr Bailey said the reforms would see speed limits slashed on footpaths to 12 kilometres an hour.
“We are seeing far too many injuries involving e-scooter users that are the result of speeding and many pedestrians feeling unsafe on footpaths,” he said.
“Our footpaths are there for everyone, so e-scooter riders will need to slow down.”
The Minister said e-scooters would now be allowed on segregated bikeways, like the Veloway and bikeways such as the Ipswich Motorway and Gateway Arterial North, as part of an examination of their further use in relation to on-road bike lanes.
“For e-scooters to use footpaths less, they need more safe routes to use as an alternative,” he said.
“We’ll examine further whether on-road bike lanes are appropriate with all stakeholders, with extensive consultation with Local Governments to come,” Mr Bailey said.
