The Do’s & Dont’s of Electric Scooters in Queensland
Queensland (QLD) is nicknamed the Sunshine State for its tropical and sub-tropical climates. It used to be part of New South Wales (NSW) but was later separated on June 6, 1859 (now commemorated as Queensland Day), establishing this state as a self-governing Crown colony with responsible government, named in honour of Queen Victoria.
Today, Queensland is the second-largest and third-most populous Australian state. The capital and largest city in the state is Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city right after Sydney and Melbourne.
Because it is home to 5.2 million people, the Queensland Government is always on the lookout for the safety and welfare of its Banana Benders (yes, famously known Australian slang for a natives or inhabitants of Queensland).
In line with safety and welfare, when it comes to personal mobility devices (or micro-mobility devices) including electric scooters, Queensland has released a plan to improve the rules and regulations. The plan is always to look at both the safety and welfare of citizens, be it the rider or the path users. Path users narrow down to people of all abilities including those with special needs. The aim is to create a balance where riders know how to move around, given that not everyone can easily move around a path with a micro-mobility device that may be obstructing free movement. But basically, a broad range of personal mobility devices or rideables as most often called in Queensland, can be used in public spaces and road related areas in this state as long as the Banana Benders comply with the road rules.
To easily navigate through the rules and regulations, here’s a table of Do’s & Dont’s when riding “rideables” like an electric scooter!
Do’s & Dont’s
| PARTICULARS | DO’S | DONT’S |
| RIDER & WEIGHT OF THE RIDEABLE | DO use your e-scooter alone because it is designed for a single person only.
DO make sure your e-scooter has a maximum weight of 60kg—when not carrying a person or load |
DO NOT carry passengers in your e-scooter. |
| PATH / STREET / ROAD | DO use the bicycle side of a shared path and always stay on the left side of the road as practicable. | DO NOT cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver or unreasonably obstruct the path of any other road user. |
| DO use paths wherever possible. Some limited access to roads is permitted but only in specific circumstances. For example, you can use your rideable to cross a road or avoid an obstruction on a path for up to 50m. | DO NOT be towed by another vehicle and DO NOT hold on to the back of another vehicle. | |
| Keep left of oncoming bicycles and other personal mobility devices.When permitted to ride on a street you must keep as far to the left | DO NOT ride within 2m of the rear of a moving motor vehicle continuously for more than 200m. | |
| DO know you are allowed to stay on your personal mobility device to cross a road at a designated crossing. | DO NOT ride on main roads or streets in the Brisbane CBD. | |
| DO ride on local streets ONLY where it is safe to do so. A local street is a road with a speed limit of 50km/h or less. | Local streets DO NOT have a dividing line or median strip and if it is a one-way road, it can’t have more than one lane. Be cautious! | |
| DO be aware of the signs around you when riding an e-scooter. | DO NOT travel past a personal mobility devices prohibited sign — local council or land owners may prohibit personal mobility devices in areas like malls, esplanades or jetties. Penalties for non-compliance may be fined at least $143. | |
| PEDESTRIANS | DO ride in a safe and respectful manner, always be considerate and give way especially around pedestrians. | DO NOT get into a collision by traveling at a safe distance from a pedestrian |
| REGISTRATION | DO contact your local council to find out if there are any local laws that apply to the use of e-scooters. | Rideables including e-scooters DO NOT need to be registered. |
| MEASUREMENT | DO make sure your e-scooter fits the following dimensions:
*1,250mm in length by 700mm in width by 1,350mm in height or *700mm in length by 1,250mm in width by 1,350mm in height |
DO NOT have sharp protrusions in your e-scooter. |
| SPEED | Do know that the max speed is 25km/h. Travel at a speed that allows you to stop safely to avoid colliding with a pedestrian. | DO NOT race with your e-scooter. |
| MOTOR, WHEELS & BRAKES | DO know that a rideable is powered by an electric motor and has 1 or more wheels. Therefore DO make sure your rideable has a braking system. | DO NOT ride unless your e-scooter is ready and fully functional. |
| LIGHTS | DO have a working flashing or steady white light on the front, and a red light and reflector at the rear when traveling at night or in hazardous conditions. | |
| HELMET | DO wear an approved bicycle helmet that is securely fitted, at all times. | Unless an EXEMPTION has been granted for medical or religious reasons. |
| MOBILE DEVICE | DO be sober when on a rideable. Be alert and aware of your surroundings when riding. | DO NOT use a mobile device |
| INTOXICATION | DO NOT drink and ride. Be responsible. |
Queensland is one of Australia’s destination states making it a must-see-place – a great beyond for explorations – especially since it is home to golden beaches, idyllic tropical islands, fantastic surf breaks, World Heritage-listed rainforests, rivers, reefs, and waterfalls. For big-city attractions, Queensland’s capital Brisbane provides a small-town feel that has so much to offer like malls, centres, museums, galleries, exhibitions, parks, botanic gardens, or simply sightseeing and overlooking its beautiful city.
What better way to explore than with an e-scooter that takes you places. Ride Hub, Home of Electrified Beasts (E-Rides) offers premium e-scooters from top-of-the-line brands like Bird, Bolzzen, Ducati, E-Glide, Inokim, Kaabo, Mearth, Mercane, NanRobot, Segway and Xiaomi.
Allow Ride Hub to take you on a wild adventure while you explore Queensland and its majesties. But before you do, make sure you read the Do’s and Don’ts in order to be a responsible rider!
