Mayor says ‘more rules needed’
The NSW Government has proposed making e-scooters legal for riders aged16 years and over, on footpaths and some roads.
The proposals, announced 13 May, were in response to the Parliamentary inquiry into the use of e-scooters, e-bikes and related mobility options.
Under the proposals, e-scooters would have a speed limit of 10 to 20km/hr on footpaths, and a 20km/hr speed limit on roads signposted at 50km/hr or less.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said that ‘so much more was needed.’
“It is a missed opportunity not to implement new speed limits for e-bikes on footpaths,” the mayor told PL. “The rule that allows a 12-year-old on a fat bike to ride at the same speed on the footpath as on the road next to it is an obvious safety risk for pedestrians, and should have been a key consideration in the government’s response.”
Mayor Heins also said the government response ‘lacked detail on how Transport for NSW and NSW Police would work to improve enforcing the regulations.’
The government also proposed boosting rider and road-user education and consider appropriate fines and opportunities in collaboration with NSW Police, who are responsible for enforcement. No change to the e-bike speed limit of 25km/hr was proposed.
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby said the proposed regulations wouldn’t tackle the fact there were both legal and illegal e-bikes on the Beaches.
“The NSW Government must do more on education, safety and enforcement, and I’m worried they’re not interested,” Ms Scruby said.
“Pedestrians want to feel safe on footpaths, and the weight of heavy e-bikes coupled with excessive speeds means they are at risk. I’ve had numerous emails from constituents feeling unsafe or having near misses, as well as serious accidents in the community already.
“To keep up with the e-bike boom, the government should require licences for all ages, registration and insurance – like we do for boats. But it’s clear that these types of reforms are not on the agenda,” Ms Scruby concluded.
Harold Scruby, Pedestrian Council of Australia chair, called the proposals a ‘joke.’ “Pedestrians remain at the very bottom of the food chain. It’s all about the safety and speed of the e-riders,” Mr Scruby told PL. “For the record, it hurts just as much to be hit by an e-scooter or a modified fatboy e-bike on a shared path as it does on a footpath.”
The government will progress the regulation of e-scooters and road rule changes in the next few months.