Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay residents will continue to be able to get around via e-scooter when they visit the city or Ballarat as the state government is extending the e-scooter trial across Victoria.
Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne has announced the e-scooter trial would be extended for six months and will now include the use of private e-scooters.
More than 3.7 million short trips have been taken on e-scooters in Melbourne, alongside more than 200,000 in Ballarat, throughout the trial.
Data from the trial showed the main reason people hire a trial e-scooter is for leisure, social outings, commuting or to visit cafes, reducing congestion and carbon emissions – with around 400 tonnes of carbon avoided through e-scooter use.
The state government is taking steps to ensure the community uses e-scooters in a responsible way during the trial extension with the following rules in place:
Riders must wear a helmet, be at least 16 years of age and adhere to the same blood alcohol content (BAC) and drug use restrictions as drivers. Riders cannot consume alcohol while travelling on an e-scooter.
E-scooters can only be used on roads with a speed limit of 60 kilometres or less. They can be ridden on roads, in bicycle lanes, on bicycle paths or separated and shared paths – but not on footpaths.
E-scooters cannot travel above 20 kilometres per hour.
Devices capable of exceeding 25 kilometres per hour are not classified as e-scooters and are still illegal.
To keep everyone safe, e-scooter riders must also not carry passengers, ride two abreast, use a mobile phone or lead an animal on their e-scooter. Victoria Police will be enforcing the safe use of e-scooters.
Further work will be carried out throughout the trial extension to understand product safety standards, rider education and if any changes to penalties are required.
E-scooter share schemes will be able to operate with the approval of local councils – with the schemes in Ballarat, Yarra, Port Philip and Melbourne expected to continue.
The trial extension will come into effect on April 5.
Ms Horne said the government is aware that e-scooters are popular with many Victorians.
“So we’re extending the trial in Victoria under these strict regulations to ensure people travel responsibly and safely,” she said.
“Riders should always wear a helmet, stick to the speed limit, only ride on roads under 60km/h – and never ride on the footpath or with another person.”
