E-bikes and e-scooters, both motorised modes of transportation and both surging in popularity. 

With less than five months until Christmas, electric bikes and scooters are almost certain to feature on many Hunter gift lists, but how many users actually know the rules when it comes to being an e-owner? 

We’ve compiled the facts, so you know what you’ll be buying into. 

What is an e-scooter? 

An electric scooter, known as an e-scooter, is a scooter powered by a rechargeable battery. The batteries usually have a range of approximately 20-60 km per charge, and a maximum speed of approximately 15-40km/hour. 

Is it legal to ride an e-scooter in NSW? 

No. 

It is illegal to ride or use an electric scooter on a road or road-related area in NSW. It is legal to sell or buy an electric scooter in NSW, however they can only be used on private property. 

In NSW, only shared e-scooters hired through approved e-scooter providers can be ridden on roads or related areas, such as shared paths. Privately owned e-scooters aren’t permitted on NSW roads or related areas. 

In a nutshell an e-scooter is legally classed as a motorcycle, so in NSW you can be fined for riding an electric scooter on a road or road related area.

You must also wear an approved bicycle helmet at all times when riding an e-scooter in NSW, and you must use the e-scooter lights when riding in darkness or hazardous weather conditions.

What is a shared e-scooter? 

On 5 December 2022, Lake Macquarie City Council started a shared e-scooter trial in which e-scooters could be rented and ridden on four pre-determined tracks – the Fernleigh Track, Croudace Bay foreshore, Warners Bay foreshore to Glendale, and Toronto foreshore to Fassifern train station. 

During the trial e-scooters are not permitted on the road or footpaths, riders must be 16 years old and over and riders must not exceed 10km/h on shared paths.  

Additional e-scooter laws in NSW 

In NSW you must be at least 16 years of age to ride an e-scooter. 

Your blood alcohol content (BAC) level must be 0.05 or less when operating an e-scooter. 

What about e-bikes? 

Once again, e-bikes are electronic bikes, powered by a rechargable battery. 

In NSW riders can only use bicycles that meet the requirements for permitted e-bikes on public roads and road-related areas. 

Petrol-powered bicycles and other powered bicycles that don’t meet e-bike requirements are illegal. 

You can only use these bikes on private property. 

What e-bikes are legal in NSW? 

There are two types of permitted e-bikes in NSW; power-assisted pedal cycles and electrically power-assisted cycles.  

Power-assisted pedal cycles have one or more motors attached with a combined maximum power output of up to 200 watts. They cannot be propelled only by the motor/s, weigh less than 50kg (including batteries) and have a height-adjustable seat. 

An electrically power-assisted cycle has a maximum continued rated power of up to 500 watts that progressively reduces as the bicycle’s speed increases beyond 6km/h and cuts off when it reaches a speed of 25km/h. 

By way of definition, the rider of an acceptable e-bike must primarily propel their bike – a motor can’t be the only source propelling it. The motor should only help the rider, like when going uphill or facing strong winds. 

All petrol-powered bicycles are illegal on NSW roads and road-related areas like footpaths, shared paths, cycle ways and cycle paths. 

What about shared e-bikes?

In July 2022 Lake Macquarie welcomed 500 beam e-bikes that can be ridden from a docking station anywhere within the allocated ‘Beam Zone’ until paid amount runs out.

The fleet of Apollo electronic bikes use pedal-assist power that kicks in once the bike hits 3km/hr.

They can be ridden on NSW roads and road-related areas.

It’s also worth mentioning that it’s not just e-bikes and e-scooters you need to know about. 

What other vehicles are illegal in NSW?

In NSW prohibited vehicles also include;

• All petrol-powered bicycles that have a petrol-powered engine attached before or after purchase, or are powered by any other type of internal combustion engine. 
• Motorised foot scooters (with or without a seat) with an electric or petrol engine,  
• Minibikes or monkey bikes 
• Segways 
• Skateboards with an electric or petrol motor 

Because these vehicles can’t be registered or insured, they can only be used on private land, which means you cannot ride them in public places, including roads, footpaths, shared paths and cycleways. 

* It’s worth noting that currently each state in Australia has its own set of rules when it comes to electronic vehicles being permitted on roads and shared pathways.

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