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NSW to legalise e-scooters on paths and roads up to 20km/h for those over 16 (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 8 months ago by conorab@lemmy.conorab.com to c/sydney@aussie.zone

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This seems like a sensible but odd carveout. The law is essentially legalising e-scooters on shared paths, and bike lanes on roads with no more than 20km/h. The proposition does not allow them on footpaths, which you’d think would be the most relevant place. Personally, I’m surprised they wouldn’t allow them on footpaths but no more than 5 km/h in heavy pedestrian areas (anywhere a car would have to do 40 km/h or less), especially since you could potentially require shared e-scooters to enforce this speed with GPS.

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[–] Tau@aussie.zone 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Slowly catching up with the times, classic NSW though having to be different to everyone else and make it 20km/h rather than 25.

Really should be allowed on footpaths (maybe with lower limit) but I guess small steps are better than the current situation where they're illegal but mainly ignored. The ACT allows both escooters and bicycles on the footpath and this works fine, so take claims it'd be super dangerous with a large serving of salt.

[–] Zagorath@aussie.zone 8 points 8 months ago

Considering NSW and Victoria are still a century behind the times when it comes to allowing even normal bikes onto footpaths, I wouldn't be holding my breath here.

[–] vividspecter@lemm.ee 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The proposition does not allow them on footpaths, which you’d think would be the most relevant place.

It's consistent with the current laws for bikes and ebikes, which are allowed on shared paths but not footpaths.

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

What's a shared path?

[–] dumblederp@aussie.zone 6 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

In Victoria, there's a number of paths designated for both pedestrians and cyclists. They're incredibly shit for both parties IMO. Kids, dogs and idiots ruin the experience, I prefer to cycle on the road with cars who are more predictable and follow the rules better. We really need to be building separate walking and a bike/microtransit paths.

I assume it's the same in Sydney but I have no experience there.

[–] Zagorath@aussie.zone 6 points 8 months ago

Shared paths are good on low volume recreational paths. For serious commuting or paths where there's large numbers of people, they're shit.

[–] techno_analyst@aussie.zone 1 points 8 months ago

They’re not too bad in my part of Sydney, though you do get the occasional teenager or delivery rider zooming through on an e-bike that has probably had the limiter removed/bypassed.

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 4 points 8 months ago

That 20km/host rule is going to make selecting a legal one for personal use a PITA.

A smaller market segment within a small segment.

Trying to get a decent one that doesn't weigh over 25kg is very challenging here in WA.

[–] DreamAccountant@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Keep as many e-scooters, e-bikes, e-whatevers off the walking paths. They're for walking, not swarms of scooters weaving through pedestrians.

[–] Raiderkev@lemmy.world 0 points 8 months ago

Some jackass kid almost ran over a toddler in the walking path at a local park near me when I was last there. Kid riding it was nowhere near 16. Why parents think it's Ok to give their kids essentially a motorcycle to drive around with no license is beyond me.

[–] No1@aussie.zone 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

It always made me laugh how many escooters I already see around the local suburbs. Though, apparently they were/are illegal.

Seem like a good,.portable transportation option that can help with the 'last mile' problem.

[–] vividspecter@lemm.ee 2 points 8 months ago

They are good for multi-modal transport in particular, since you still can't take bikes on buses (at least not in NSW). Hopefully that will change in the future, too.

[–] eureka@aussie.zone 1 points 8 months ago

I'd hold off on that until they have half a shot at enforcing the 16 part and basic safety. Seriously, require licenses for those motor vehicles. Someone I know had to give first aid when two teens crashed into a parked car and came out with asphalt grazes on their face. Luckily, one of them had a helmet!

I fear that scooter money and shitty government means someone will die before we get the laws we need to protect riders and those around them.