Page 41 - Tropic Magazine Issue 37
P. 41
TROPIC • TRANSPORT
New rules They may be a cheap and convenient footpaths, and making bells compulsory.
way to get around, but public concerns A working group is also investigating
E-SCOOTERS over safety for riders, pedestrians and whether to allow e-scooters in the bicycle
road traffic has prompted some changes lanes of main roads, which is currently
The Queensland Government around the rules for e-scooters. forbidden. There will also be increased
is introducing a suite of new While there is no new data around penalties for high-risk offences.
safety regulations for personal just how popular e-scooter travel is, “This will include speeding, using a
mobility devices. Queensland is certainly leading the way mobile phone while riding and riding on
in Australia due in part to early adoption prohibited roads,” Mr Bailey said.
Words: Renee Cluff of a shared e-scooter system in Brisbane. “Earlier this year we announced that
Private sales of the scooters are now also speeds would be halved to 12 kilometres
booming statewide alongside a per hour on footpaths which was a really
global trend. important step in reducing dangerous,
“It’s hard to miss how successful the high-speed interactions between
uptake of e-scooters has been here pedestrians and riders. This was a quick
in Queensland, from the Coast up to win and pushes us in the right direction
Cairns,” said Transport Minister to support our transition to larger
Mark Bailey. “E-scooters are an emerging regulatory reform.”
form of transport, and they aren’t
going anywhere – if anything, their use
continues to gain popularity with those
who want to leave the car at home or Projected growth of the
connect with public transport. global electric scooter market
“That’s why it’s important we have a plan 2021
on how we improve safety for e-scooter
riders, and for those who use our $29 billion
cycleways, footpaths and roads.”
The Personal Mobility Device Safety 2030
Action Plan is a package of regulations, $58 billion
most of which will be delivered by
year’s end. In the short term, there are Source: Grand View Research
reductions to speed limits on some
• Under current rules, riders must: What are the changes?
• Be at least 16 years of age, • Reduced speed limit of 12km/hr
or 12 with adult supervision on footpaths
• Go no faster than 25km/hr (on • Mandating of warning devices,
some thoroughfares) such as bells
• Wear a bicycle helmet • Motorcycle helmets added to
approved headwear
• Not use mobile phones or drink/
take drugs and ride • E-scooter lockouts in certain
places at certain times to combat
• Not ride on main roads (unless alcohol/drug riding
crossing streets) and use paths
wherever possible • Possible breath and saliva testing
• Have front and rear lights for • Possible allowance for use in bike
night travel lanes on main roads
• Not have a passenger or MORE: tmr.qld.gov.au
tow anything
41 • tropicnow.com.au