What are the rules for e-scooters and e-bikes?

The Minns government has announced that it will revert a law that made it legal to sell e-bikes with power output over 250W in NSW following the death of another rider in an e-bike-related accident. A man aged in his 30s was killed on Tuesday after colliding with a garbage truck in the Sydney CBD, the ABC reports. 

Currently, NSW is the only state that allows e-bikes with output up to 500W to be purchased. 

In an announcement on Tuesday, NSW transport ministers said that, “The Government will move to reduce the maximum legal power output of e-bikes in NSW to 250 watts, bringing the state back into line with all other Australian jurisdictions. 

“This reverses a previous regulatory change that increased the power limit to 500 watts, which has contributed to a wave of high-powered bikes that can be unsafe for children and difficult for parents and police to identify.” 

The Government will also review e-bike definitions, to close loopholes that have seen electric bikes with power outputs equal to motorbikes sold and ridden as bikes bicycles. 

In a statement to Open Road, a Transport for NSW Spokesperson said that, "The updated rules are expected to take effect within months and will be done in consultation with retailers and the community to ensure a fair transition. 

"Until these changes come into effect, any bicycle that does not meet the currently permitted e-bikes in the NSW road rules, including a bicycle that has a motor capacity greater than 500W, is already illegal and penalties apply. 

The spokesperson added: "E-scooters are currently illegal to use in public spaces in NSW. Enforcement of road rules is a matter for NSW Police."

The news comes as the Federal Government commits to ensuring all e-bikes sold in Australia comply with European safety and quality standard, EN 15194. Currently, only Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania require e-bikes to comply with the standard. 

Until the 250W rule comes into effect, the NSW Government is also urging parents considering buying e-bikes for children this Christmas to buy those that comply with the EN15194 standard. Ideally, they would also have a maximum 250W power, be sold by a " reputable brand with proper safety documentation” and not be modified or had their speed limiters removed. 

The announcement about the new rule also comes just weeks after retrofitted e-bikes (regular bikes fitted with electric conversion packs) were banned from Sydney Trains and Metro services.

E-bikes and e-scooters: Everything you need to know

Getting from A to B on an e-scooter or e-bike is an increasingly popular option for many Australians, with teens enjoying the ability to visit friends and explore their home turf on their own wheels, and workers keen to ease the dreaded daily commute. In NSW alone there are now an estimated 1.35 million micromobility devices, at least half of which are used to connect with public transport. 

E-scooters and e-bikes not only make our lives easier, they also help reduce fuel costs and the emissions. In Sydney, the NSW government estimates that a third of trips on e-scooters and e-bikes replace car trips. The number is even greater in regional NSW, where almost half of the trips on personal mobility devices replace car trips.

Because personal mobility trips often share public space with pedestrians, however, states have introduced rules around their use to reduce accidents. The Victorian government estimates that 1000 people a year are admitted to hospital because of e-scooter-related injuries. The rules vary by state, so it’s important to understand how and where you can ride your e-bike or e-scooter. Here’s a breakdown of the rules for e-scooters and e-bikes from state to state. 

What is an e-scooter? 

E-scooters fall under the umbrella of 'personal mobility devices', which can also include electric-powered skateboards and unicycles. They are designed for use by one person only (unlike bicycles which sometimes have two seats). Unlike bicycles, there are usually age limits for riding e-scooters. As with bicycles, riders of e-scooters must wear an approved bicycle helmet, have a bell or horn to warn pedestrians, and a light if riding at night. Likewise, mobile phone use while riding is not permitted.

What is an e-bike?

Generally, there are two types of e-bikes: pedal-assist e-bikes and more powerful electric pedal-assist cycles (also known by lawmakers are EPACS.) The former generally applies to bicycles with a small motor that assists in pedalling only (they are also referred to as 'throttle-assist' e-bikes). More common these days are the EPACs, which use motorised power to propel the bicycle without pedalling. Some states specify that an EPAC must be a 'pedelec' that complies with the European Standard EN 15194. 

Rules around an e-bike’s motor output and cut-out speed determine whether it is legally classed as a bicycle. In Australia, throttle-assist e-bikes are capped at 200 watts, while pedelecs/EPACs have a maximum continuous output of up to 250 watts and the motor must cut out at 25km/h. Anything more powerful is no longer considered an e-bike under the law and is instead treated as a motor vehicle, requiring registration, insurance, and a rider licence.

What are the rules for e-scooters?

E-scooter rules in NSW

In NSW, only e-scooters that are available for hire (also known as 'shared e-scooters') are permitted footpaths, shared paths, bicycle lanes and roads. Privately-owned e-scooters are only permitted on private property.   

• Where: At approved trial sites only, on shared paths and roads, including bicycle lanes, where the posted speed limit is 50km/h or below. Not permitted on footpaths
• Speed: Where permitted, e-scooters may travel up to 10km/hr on shared paths and 20km/hr on roads and bicycle lanes 
• Age: Minimum 16

Find out more: Transport NSW - E-scooters

E-scooter rules in Victoria

Victoria permits e-scooters on most roads and paths, but not footpaths.

• Where: On roads with a speed limit of 60km/h or below, as well as bicycle lanes, shared paths and separated bike paths. Not permitted on footpaths
• Speed: 20km/h, and the device must not be capable of travelling faster than 25km/h
• Age: 16+

Find out more: Transport Victoria – e-scooters

E-scooter rules in Queensland

Queensland allows e-scooters on footpaths and some roads.

• Where: On footpaths, shared paths, bike paths and local roads with a speed limit of 50km/h or below and no dividing line or median strip. E-scooters can also use bike lanes on roads up to 50km/h, or physically separated bike lanes regardless of the road speed limit
• Speed limit: 12km/h on footpaths, 25km/h elsewhere
• Age: Minimum 12 (supervision until 16)

Find out more: QLD – PMDs

E-scooter rules in the ACT 

ACT allows e-scooters on paths but largely bans road use.

• Where: On footpaths, shared paths, bicycle paths and the bicycle side of separated paths
• Speed limit: 15km/h on footpaths, 25km/h elsewhere
• Roads: Only for the shortest, safest route where there is no footpath, shared path or nature strip available, or it is impracticable to use one
• Age: No limit, but under-12s must be supervised

Find out more: Transport ACT – e-scooters

E-scooter rules in South Australia

SA legalised e-scooters in July 2025.

• Where: On footpaths, shared paths, bicycle paths and bike lanes. E-scooters can also be used on roads up to 50km/h, or on 60km/h roads only when riding in a bicycle lane
• Speed limit: 10km/h on footpaths, shared paths, beaches and road crossings; 25km/h on bicycle paths, bicycle lanes and roads where permitted
• Age: 16+

Find out more: SA – Personal Mobility Devices

E-scooter rules in Tasmania

Tasmania permits e-scooters on paths and selected roads.

• Where: On footpaths, shared paths, bicycle paths and local roads with a speed limit of 50km/h or below, no dividing line or median strip, and no multiple lanes on a one-way road
• Speed limit: 15km/h on footpaths, 25km/h elsewhere
• Age: 16+ (children under 16 restricted to ≤200W, ≤10km/h devices)

Find out more: Tas Transport – PMDs

E-scooter rules in Western Australia

WA permits e-scooters on paths and selected roads.

• Where: On footpaths, shared paths, bicycle paths and local roads with a speed limit of 50km/h or below. Not permitted on roads with a dividing line, roads above 50km/h, or where signs ban bicycles or wheeled devices
• Speed limit: 10km/h on footpaths, 25km/h elsewhere
• Age: 16+

Find out more: WA – eRideables

E-scooter rules in Northern Territory

Only Beam Mobility hire e-scooters are allowed in NT. Private e-scooters are banned in public spaces.

• Where: On footpaths, shared paths, bicycle lanes
• Speed limit: 15km/h
• Age: 18+ 

Find out more: NT – e-scooters and bikes 

Where can I ride my e-bike?

Rules for e-bikes are largely the same across all states except for some minor differences.

E-bike rules in NSW

• Where: same as bicycles (roads, bike lanes, shared paths)

• Types: ≤200W auxiliary-motor, or EPAC up to 500W
• Cut-out: 25km/h when pedalling, 6km/h if not pedalling
• Age: not specified

Find out more: NSW – e-bikes

E-bike rules in Victoria

• Types: 200W throttle, or 250W pedelec EN15194
• Cut-out: 25km/h
• Where: same as bicycles
• Age: not specified

Find out more: Vic – e-bikes

E-bike rules in Queensland

• Types: 200W throttle, or 250W pedelec EN15194
• Cut-out: 25km/h
• Where: same as bicycles
• Age: not specified

Find out more: QLD – e-bikes

E-bike rules in the ACT

• Types: ≤200W auxiliary motor, or 250W EPAC
• Cut-out: not specified
• Where: same as bicycles (not on roads marked 'no bicycles’)
• Age: not specified

Find out more: ACT – cycling

E-bike rules in South Australia

• Types: 200W throttle, or 250W pedelec EN15194
• Cut-out: 25km/h
• Where: same as bicycles
• Age: not specified

Find out more: SA – power-assisted bicycles

E-bike rules in Tasmania

• Types: 200W throttle, or 250W pedelec EN15194
• Cut-out: 25km/h or when not pedalling
• Where: same as bicycles
• Age: not specified

Find out more: Tas – e-bikes

E-bike rules in Western Australia

• Types: pedal-assist only, 250W max motor
• Cut-out: not specified
• Where: same as bicycles
• Age: 16+

Find out more: WA – cyclists

E-bike rules in Northern Territory

• Types: treated as bicycles (no wattage specified)
• Cut-out: not specified
• Where: same as bicycles
• Age: not specified

Find out more: NT – e-scooters and bikes

Can I take my e-scooter or e-bike on public transport?

Laws regarding taking e-scooters and e-bikes on public transport differ from state to state. From November 2025, there are now new rules around taking e-bikes on public transport in NSW. Converted e-bikes – regular pedal bikes that have been retrofitted with a motor and lithium-ion battery – are now banned from Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink and Metro services.

Riders caught with a restricted converted e-bike or its battery on the network face a $400 penalty notice and fines of up to $1,100, with the crackdown aimed at reducing fire risk from unsafe DIY electrical setups and low-quality batteries.

In Tasmania, e-bikes that have not been modified may be taken on trains only, and e-scooters are not allowed on buses. In Queensland they are not permitted on trams or buses, and in South Australia they are not allowed on any type of public transport.

At the time of writing, there were no such limitations in Victoria, the ACT, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. 

Whether or not you can take an e-bike or e-scooter on a bus or other privately-owned public transport network may also be at the discretion of that network or the driver.

While EV battery fires are very rare, one-third of lithium-ion battery fires are caused by e-mobility devices according to NSW Fire and Rescue. 

Summary

Rules for e-scooters and e-bikes differ significantly depending on which state or territory you’re in. Broadly, e-scooters are legal to ride on paths and some roads in most jurisdictions, but restrictions vary on speed, age and whether footpaths are included. Victoria and NSW keep them off footpaths, while Queensland, Tasmania, WA and the ACT allow them there at low speeds. South Australia only legalised them in mid-2025, and the Northern Territory continues to limit them to hire schemes.

By contrast, e-bike regulations are more consistent nationwide. Every state recognises two main categories: 200-watt throttle-assist bikes and 250-watt pedal-assist (pedelec) bikes. Most require the motor to cut out at 25km/h, though NSW also permits a higher 500-watt class under certain conditions. Age restrictions are rare, with only WA explicitly setting a 16+ minimum.

In short, if you’re on an e-bike, rules are fairly uniform. But if you’re riding an e-scooter, what’s legal in Brisbane or Hobart might earn you a fine in Sydney. Checking the rules where you ride an e-scooter or e-bike is essential before setting off.

This article was updated on the 8 September 2025 to correct an intepretation of NSW Legislation relating to e-scooter use that was updated on 15 August 2025, and to add information regarding taking e-mobility devices on public transport.

This article was updated on 14th November to ​add information about new rules around e-bikes on public transport in NSW.