Scooters & wheeled recreational devices

What is a foot scooter?

A foot scooter:

• has two or three wheels (one in front of the other, or one in front and two at the rear)
• has a footboard between the front and back wheels
• is steered by handlebars
• may or may not have a seat
• is moved by pushing one foot against the ground.

Rules for human-powered scooters

Scooter riders must:

• follow the rules for wheeled recreational devices (below)
• wear an Australian Standards approved bicycle helmet
• ride with at least one effective brake on their scooter
• ride with a bell or horn on their scooter
• at night have a
  • white light (flashing or steady) on the front
  • red light (flashing or steady) on the back
  • a red reflector on the back.

The Victorian Government is currently undertaking a trial of e-scooters to test if and how these devices can be permanently incorporated into Victoria’s transport system. 

Find out more about the e-scooter trial and the rules which govern their use here.

Note: a motorised mobility device is not an e-scooter. Information about these devices can be found here.

Is my e-scooter legal?

Only devices which meet the following criteria are allowed to be ridden in Victoria under strict trial conditions: 

A legal e-scooter is a vehicle designed for use by one person that—

(a)    transports a person while the person is standing;

(b)    has 2 wheels (one in front of the other);

(c)    has a footboard between the front and rear wheels;

(d)    is steered by means of a handlebar;

(e)    has a maximum speed capability of 25 kilometres per hour when ridden on level ground; and

(f)     can be propelled by one or both of the following—

(i)      one or more electric motors;

(ii)     a person pushing one foot against the ground.

Note the maximum speed you can travel on a legal e-scooter is 20 km/h.

The following devices are not considered legal devices and are not allowed to be ridden in public areas: 

• e-scooters capable of travelling faster than 25 km/h
• devices powered by a petrol motor
• electric skateboards
• electric unicycles or monocycles 
• electric roller-skates
• self-balancing motorised devices
• other personal mobility devices which don’t meet the above definition.   

The above devices can only be ridden on private property. The fine for riding an illegal device in a public area is $925. Other penalties may also apply. 

Low-powered e-scooters

Low-powered e-scooters (devices which have no more than 200 watts of power and are not capable of travelling faster than 10 km/h), can be used in the same manner as human-powered scooters and wheeled recreational devices (below)

Note that the vast majority of e-scooters are not low-powered e-scooters, and are capable of exceeding 10 km/h and 200 watts.

What is a wheeled recreational device?

Wheeled recreational devices include:

• scooters (human-powered and low-powered e-scooters) 
• skateboards
• roller blades
• roller skates.

Wheeled recreational devices don't include:

• bicycles
• golf buggies
• prams
• strollers
• trolleys
• wheelchairs (see our Pedestrians page)
• wheeled toys
• petrol-powered scooters
• high-powered e-scooters (i.e. with a motor output of more than 200 watts, or capable of travelling faster than 10 km/h).

Rules for wheeled recreational devices

Wheeled recreational devices can be used on:

• footpaths
• bicycle paths
• shared paths
• the bicycle side of separated paths
• shared zones
• some low-speed roads

When travelling on a road users must keep as far to the left side of the road as is practicable. 

Wheeled recreational devices cannot be:

• used on pedestrian side of separated paths
• used on roads with dividing lines or median strips
• used on roads with a speed limit of more than 50 km per hour
• used on one-way roads with more than one marked lane 
• used on the road at night, except to cross the road, e.g. at an intersection. This rule does not apply to scooters with lights (refer to Rules for Scooters above).
• towed or used in the slipstream of another vehicle
• used where there is a 'No Wheeled Recreational Devices or Toys' sign.

You are not allowed to use motorised skateboards on public roads or road related areas including footpaths or nature strips. 

Rules around hoverboards, segways and other motorised personal mobility devices can be found on the Hoverboards, Segways and other motorised personal mobility devices page.