The NSW Government is one step closer to legalising the use of E-Scooters in NSW. Today (28th October 2024) the NSW Government released a new E-micromobility Action Plan.
The Action Plan recognises that e-scooters can be legally purchased in stores, but riding one is illegal on NSW roads.
Draft Rules Released
The NSW Government noted:
“E-scooters could be a sustainable and accessible transport option for the people of NSW, better-connecting people to public transport and linking communities to jobs, services and town centres.
It is currently legal to buy an e-scooter, but illegal to use it on NSW streets and roads.
We are exploring options to address this and allow people to legally ride e-scooters.
Before making any decisions on the future use of e-scooters in NSW, we are considering the available evidence, along with expert and stakeholder views.
We want to make sure we get the right rules and policies in place to ensure safe use, reduce safety risks and maximise the benefits this transport option can bring.
Transport has developed draft key rules that would support the safe use of e-scooters.”
Next Steps
The next step is for Transport for NSW to engage with experts, advocacy groups and others to seek feedback on these draft rules.
This feedback will be factored into any future decision to change the rules for e-scooter use in NSW, this includes feedback:
- in all submissions to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the use of e-scooters, e-bikes and related mobility options
- through hearings at the Parliamentary Inquiry, which will take place between 29 and 31 October 2024
- from Transport’s Accessible Transport Advisory Committee, made up of 25 disability and ageing advocacy organisations
- from Transport’s Road Safety Advisory Council, a key forum made up of 16 road user and safety organisations
- from the local government sector, including councils from metropolitan and regional areas, Local Government NSW and Office of Local Government
- from business advocacy organisations
- active transport peak advocacy organisations
- from businesses providing shared e-scooters and shared e-bikes
- from State government agencies including the E-micromobility Interagency Group.
What is Lane Cove Council’s Stand on E-Scooters?
In mid 2020 the City of Sydney and the Inner West Council rejected a state government proposed trial for e-scooters.
The Inner West Council had concerns about pedestrian safety issues on their narrow, very busy footpaths.
At the March 2020 Lane Cove Council Meeting, Lane Cove Council passed a notice of motion asking the Lane Cove Council to write to the Minister for Transport and ask him to approve an E- Scooter trial.
The background information to the notice of motion stated:
“There are many reasons why e-scooters could be a good transport option in Lane Cove. Proposed trials in a number of Sydney LGAs were abandoned last week by the Minister for Transport. It is recommended that Council write to the Minister requesting he reconsider his decision.
“The NSW government has abandoned plans for an electric scooter trial in Sydney despite a national push to legalise the mobility devices.
Electric scooters are illegal on roads and footpaths in NSW, but sales continue to grow.
The then Transport Minister Andrew Constance said he was “not in the mood” to have e-scooters on Sydney streets, even though his department ran a lengthy process recommending strict conditions for holding a trial in Sydney: electric scooters would be restricted to riders aged over 18 who hold a driver’s license and could only be ridden during the day and be allowed on footpaths capped at 10km/h and on bicycle paths and residential streets up to 25km/h.
In 2022, ITC contacted Lane Cove Council and queried if they were still keen to go ahead with an E- Scooter trial. A spokesperson for Lane Cove Council advised ITC:
“Council attended a briefing in May 2022, about an e-scooter trial that is to be facilitated by TfNSW.
The trial is to provide transport connections for End to End Journeys, First and Last Mile Journeys or Recreational Journey options.
TfNSW asked if any councils were interested. Council responded with an interest to participate in the trial.
At the last briefing TfNSW have asked Council to nominate a preferred e-scooter provider and provide a detailed submission by 30/9/22. We are currently working through options to consider our participation in the trial.
We will know more in the coming months.”
In September 2022, the Lane Cove Council again discussed E-Scooters at a council meeting. It was listed as an agenda item as Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has invited councils to prepare an Expression of Interest (EOI) by 30 September 2022 to participate in an e-scooter trial in partnership with e-scooter providers.
Under the trial, E-scooters from nominated providers will not be permitted on footpaths or on roads with a sign-posted speed limit above 50km/h. They would only be permitted on local roads with speed limits of 50km/h or less, cycleways, and shared user paths. The use of privately owned e-scooters will remain prohibited.
TfNSW had developed a set of requirements that must be included within the EOI submission. One of the main elements that need to be addressed is road safety. However, the council officer’s report noted:
“TfNSW’s Road Safety Audit (RSA) Procedures were not developed with e-scooters in mind. Council has asked TfNSW for guidance on whether a full RSA is required or if a specific checklist is available. To date, TfNSW has not provided further details on the RSA requirements. At this stage, it is recommended that Council not submit an EOI to participate in the e-scooter trial.”
However, Lane Cove Council’s stated policy is to electrify everything, and it appears that they are in favour of e-scooters; see the image below on the Lane Cove Council’s Electrify Everything page.
Are E-Scooters a Good Thing in Lane Cove?
ITC regularly receives complaints by locals about people riding bikes and skateboards in the Lane Cove Village Plaza. Residents complain that rangers don’t enforce the no bike riding rule which puts pedestrians at risk.
In July 2024 the ABC reported that E-scooter injuries are on the rise in Queensland – read more here.
Jamieson Trauma Institute (JTI) research, co-funded by the RBWH Foundation and RACQ, shows electric scooter crashes are becoming more common and more severe, with presentations to emergency departments across the state growing every month.
Since January 1 2019, there have been 3305 presentations to participating Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit* (QISU) emergency departments in Queensland as a result of an e-scooter ride gone wrong.
The research also found 63% of presentations were male and the average age of patients was 30 years old. Read more here.
A December 2023 article in the Guardian noted that Victorian emergency doctors were called on tighter controls for e-scooters. Read more here.
Other Safety Issues for E-Scooters
One of the other issues with E-scooters is the risk of lithium battery fires. In December 2023, warnings about cheap lithium batteries were issued – read more here.
Are Scooters an Environmentally Friendly Option?
A 2019 study from North Carolina State University found that shared e-scooters may be more environmentally friendly than most cars. However, they may be less green than bikes, walking, and certain types of public transportation. E-scooters are electric and therefore carbon-free. Their green credibility comes into question with the emissions generated by the manufacturing, transportation, maintenance, and upkeep of dockless scooters.
Other commentators argue that an increased uplift in E-scooters (where they directly replace car usage) will have a positive impact on the environment. For example Jeremiah Johnson, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University published an article in the Conversation:
“Our research highlights several ways to make these scooters more sustainable. Using e-scooters that are designed to be more durable can reduce environmental impacts from the materials used to build them on a per-mile traveled basis. Improving collection and distribution processes could reduce driving distances, and companies could use more fuel-efficient vehicles to collect the scooters. For their part, cities could allow scooters to be left out overnight and only picked up when their batteries are depleted.
For now, however, a scooter ride that doesn’t replace a car trip is unlikely to be a net win for the planet.”
It looks like the NSW Government is committed to E-scooters, and Lane Cove Council will need to implement an enforcement system that ensures pedestrians are safe, particularly in the Lane Cove Plaza.
Help Support Local and Independent News
You can support us in three ways:
- If you own a local business or a Lane Cove resident who owns a business, you can advertise with ITC – our packages start from a $30 monthly fee (for a 12-month commitment). Could you email us here for our rates card?
- Buy the ITC team a coffee – our office is nearly every coffee shop in Lane Cove, and we regularly meet locals at coffee shops – buy the ITC team a coffee (or two) here.
- Become an ITC reader sponsor – Feel free to be a reader sponsor if you have enjoyed our local news coverage – no amount is too small or too big. Thank you so much to the people who have already supported us via our press Patreon account. Help Us Here.
