The majority of e-scooter riders in Brisbane are adhering to speed limits, according to a new study.
The study commissioned the Queensland Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) looked at the behaviour of riders in the city before and after the introduction of tighter regulations in November 2022.
Study lead Richard Buning, from the University of Queensland, said his team was asked to look at speed, helmet use and where e-scooters were being ridden.
“Queensland’s road rules for e-scooters were changed in November 2022 to help improve safety on streets and footpaths,” Dr Buning said.
“Our team analysed data from more than 200 hours of traffic camera footage of both rideshare/public and private e-scooters in eight Brisbane locations, captured in October 2022 and again in October 2023.”
He said 52 percent of riders observed the 12 km/h speed limit introduced for footpaths, with most of those who didn’t comply travelling just over the speed limit, at less than 15 km/h.
“On allowed paths like bicycle lanes and on-road paths, 82 percent stuck to the 25 km/h e-scooter speed limit.”
Dr Buning said riders were more likely to stay within the speed limit in high density areas like the CBD where there were more pedestrians.
He said helmet compliance was largely high across the board, perhaps because of well-established rules for cyclists, while public e-scooter riders were less likely to wear helmets.
“(This) might be explained by shorter rides and in lower-risk areas like the CBD and on footpaths, or perhaps an unwillingness to wear a shared helmet.”
Dr Buning said the study showed some difference in where public and private e-scooters were ridden.
“People on share e-scooters tended to ride on footpaths and avoid recently allowed infrastructure such as on-road bike lanes, implying less knowledge and understanding of road rules,” he said.
“Encouragingly, when a bike lane – and even more so when a separated bike path was present – we saw riders were more likely to use them instead of the footpath, and to ride within the speed limit.”
Dr Buning said their report recommended a mandate that share companies and retailers provided e-scooter users with the road rules and associated penalties.
“Currently there’s no such information provided at retail outlets for people buying scooters.
“For public schemes, the use timers often begin while the rules are being shown, encouraging users to skip through the notices quickly.”
Download the report: E scooter movement data analysis
Current E-scooter rules in Queensland
- OK to ride on footpaths, shared paths, bicycle paths, on-road bicycle lanes with a speed limit of less than 50 km/h & local 50 km/h roads with no dividing line.
- 12 km/h speed limit on footpaths and 25 km/h on other allowed paths.
- Helmets are mandatory.
- No riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or while using a mobile phone.
- No driver licence required.
