Long awaited e-scooter street date confirmed
South Australians can legally ride e-scooters and personal mobility devices on the road from July. Find out the rules.
Riders 16 and above can ride e-scooters, e-skateboards and e-solowheels on footpaths, bike paths, bike lanes and roads from July 13.
Only e-scooters will be allowed on 60km/h roads but must use the bike lane and travel at no more than 25km/h.
Other devices will be permitted on 50km/h roads but must also travel at no more than 25km/h.
These are part of the regulations introduced today by the state government, six years after e-scooter trials began in the CBD.
Currently, only e-scooter companies like Beam and Neuron can operate on footpaths in council areas that have a government-approved trial.
Following a broadly supportive public consultation in 2023, the state government introduced legislation in mid-2024 to legalise private e-scooter use, but hadn’t released the regulations about how it would work until today.
Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the government took their time to get it right.
“While there is widespread enthusiasm for the uptake of e-scooters in our transport mix, we understand there are also concerns about their use,” Koutsantonis said.
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“This is why we have taken the time to ensure the right balance in these regulations.
“We will also be reviewing the regulations in 12 months’ time to be confident they remain fit for purpose for all road and footpath users.”
Concerns about e-scooter use include health and insurance risks, with councils that run trials receiving complaints about how the devices are managed.
In 2024, there were over 543,000 e-scooter trips that started in the City of Adelaide and a total of 73 incidents were reported between both fleet operators, Beam and Neuron.
Under the new regulations, devices do not need to be registered, and drivers don’t need a licence.
E-scooter hire companies can continue operating with business permits and can graduate from the trial phase they’ve been in with local councils.
The Adelaide City Council has extended the length of its e-scooter trial six times, most recently in April.
A council spokesperson said the council acknowledges the announcement of new scooter rules marks an end to the trials, and it will now review the finalised regulations.
Parking and storing of hireable e-scooters and the contracts with operators like Beam and Neuron are the responsibility of councils.
Beam and Neuron currently hold permits to operate in the City of Adelaide until August 2025.
The rules
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Under the new regulations, devices do not need to be registered, and drivers don’t need a licence, but they must wear helmets and use a flashing light when riding at night or in low light – like bicycles.
Only e-scooters will be allowed on 60km/h roads but must ride in the bike lane and travel at no more than 25km/h.
Other devices will be permitted on 50km/h roads but must also travel at no more than 25km/h.
Riders of all devices will not be allowed to travel at more than 10km/h on footpaths, beaches and shared paths.
RAA safety and infrastructure senior manager Charles Mountain said the new regulations and speed limits are “critical to ensure the safety of riders and other road users isn’t compromised”.
It is an offence to ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs and you cannot carry a passenger or hold a mobile phone when riding.
Penalties and potential loss of demerit points will apply to anyone caught speeding or riding under the influence.
If your personal mobility device has handlebars, you can mount a phone to the handlebars for GPS navigation or as a speedometer.
You cannot take e-scooters or personal mobility devices on Adelaide Metro trains, trams or buses.
Koutsantonis said the government recognise people may use both personal mobility devices and public transport and this is something that could be reviewed in the future.
“I recognise the importance of public transport access for personal mobility devices as a first and last mile solution and we will continue to work on the best way to keep both riders and public transport passengers safe on our network,” he said.
“E-scooters and other personal mobility devices have soared in popularity right across the world in recent years, including here in South Australia.
“They help to reduce our carbon footprint while being cost-effective and an efficient way to travel short to medium commutes.
“I am pleased we have been able to update our road laws to reflect this, after South Australians made it very clear through our extensive consultation process that this is what they wanted.”
A public education campaign will roll out in the lead up to the street date, and more information is available online.
