Road rules
Personal mobility devices

We are seeking feedback on e-scooter and other personal mobility device and e-bike laws in South Australia. Visit YourSAy to learn more and have your say.
Personal mobility devices (PMD) include e‑scooters, e‑skateboards and similar devices.
In South Australia the following rules and conditions apply.
Rules you must follow
Eligibility
- You must be at least 16 years old to ride an e-scooter or other PMDs.
Safety requirements
- Wear an approved bicycle helmet or motorbike helmet.
- Use front and rear lights at night or in low light.
- Do not ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Park safely and do not block paths or access.
While riding
- Give way to pedestrians.
- Keep left unless overtaking.
- Ride at a safe speed for the conditions.
- Follow all road rules and signs.
- Keep to approved areas if using a hired e-scooter.
You must not:
- carry passengers
- use a mobile phone while riding
- ride a non-compliant or unsafe device.
Licence and registration
- You do not need a driver's licence.
- You do not need registration.
Where you can ride
Footpaths and shared areas (max 10 km/h)
You can ride on:
- footpaths
- shared paths
- beaches
- crossings.
You must:
- ride at 10 km/h or less
- always give way to pedestrians.
Bike infrastructure and lower-speed roads (max 25 km/h)
You can ride on:
- separated footpaths
- bicycle paths
- bicycle lanes
- roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less.
You must:
- ride at 25 km/h or less
- keep left and use bike lanes where available.
Roads with a 60 km/h limit (e‑scooters only)
- You can only ride in a bicycle lane.
- Maximum speed is 25 km/h.
- You must follow time restrictions for the bike lane.
PMDs other than e‑scooters must not ride on roads above 50 km/h, except briefly (for example, to avoid a hazard or cross safely).
What is a personal mobility device?
A personal mobility device must:
- be electric powered
- be designed for one rider
- weigh 45kg or less
- have working brakes
- have a bell, horn or warning device
- have no sharp edges or protrusions
- meet size limits (125 cm long, 70 cm wide and 135 cm high).
Examples include:
- e‑scooters
- e‑skateboards
- self-balancing boards or wheels.
What is not included
These are not personal mobility devices:
- bicycles or devices with pedals (find out more about e-bike rules)
- mobility scooters or motorised wheelchairs
- non-electric devices (for example, skateboards or roller skates)
- any electric device that does not meet the requirements.
Penalties
Penalties apply for breaking PMD rules. These rules are listed below. You can receive more than one fine if you break multiple rules. Penalty values are current as of 1 July 2026.
Offence | Maximum court-imposed penalty | Expiation (fine) amount * |
|---|---|---|
Speeding Exceed any of these speed limits on a PMD:
| $2,500 | $222 |
Riding a PMD (that is not an e-scooter) on a road with a speed limit greater than 50 km/h per hour | $2,500 | $484 |
Riding an e-scooter on a road with a speed limit greater than 60 km/h, or Riding an e-scooter on a road with a speed limit of 60 km/h but not in a bike lane | $2,500 | $484 |
Riding a PMD where other devices, such as scooters, skateboards and rollerblades are not permitted | $2,500 | $72 |
Riding a PMD with a passenger | $2,500 | $133 |
Person under 16 years of age riding a PMD (not permitted to ride a PMD) | $2,500 | N/A |
Adult allowing a person under 16 years of age to ride or be carried on PMD (penalty applies to the adult) | $2,500 | $133 |
Towing a trailer or any other device behind a PMD | $2,500 | $72 |
Riding a PMD alongside another PMD | $2,500 | $72 |
Driving under the influence of any alcohol or drugs (including some prescription drugs) | $500 | N/A |
PMD rider failing to give warning to pedestrians or other persons to avert danger | $2,500 | $72 |
Failing to wear an approved helmet | $2,500 | $133 |
Using a mobile phone while riding a PMD | $2,500 | $72 |
* An additional $108 Victims of Crime Levy applies to the expiation amount. Other road rules and laws may also apply.↩
Carrying PMDs on public transport
Currently PMDs (e-scooters, e-skateboards, e-hoverboards) are not allowed on public transport in South Australia, including trains, trams, and buses.
Standard e-bikes are permitted on trains only. Modified e-bikes such as those altered with aftermarket batteries or motors are not permitted on trains.
These restrictions are in place while we develop safety measures to manage the risk of lithium-ion battery fires, which can behave differently from other types of fires.
Insurance
If you injure a third party or damage property while riding your PMD you could be liable.
For further information around the use of your PMD, you may wish to either:
- consider insurance
- check your insurance policy
- contact your insurer.
Fleet-operated e-scooter trials
E-scooter hire companies can keep running and could expand to more places in South Australia.
If an e-scooter meets the rules for a PMD, the company won't need special permission from the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Companies will need permission from local councils if they want to park or store e-scooters on footpaths.
Councils can also decide if they want to use geofencing (technology that controls where e-scooters can go). They can also make rules about where e-scooters can be stored. Councils can also decide if companies need insurance when they give out business permits.
E-scooters that don't meet the PMD rules are not allowed on roads or footpaths.
If a company wants to trial a new kind of e-scooter that doesn't meet the rules, they can apply to the Minister for approval.
As a first step, operators should contact the Department for Infrastructure and Transport and the relevant local council.












