E-RIDEABLE DEVICES — REGULATIONS
788. Dr K. STRATTON to the Minister for Road Safety:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's recent announcement regarding new laws for e-rideable
devices.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how these laws will ensure that devices such as
e-scooters can use our roads and paths more safely?
(2) Can the minister advise the
house what these changes could mean for tourism operators?
Mr P.
PAPALIA replied:
(1)–(2) I thank the member for her question and for the
opportunity to bring to the attention of anyone who may have missed it
possibly the most dynamic press conference of the year, involving myself and
the Minister for Transport on scooters! I bring
to the attention of the house the benefits that will accrue to the state from the changes that will come in on 4
December. At that time, we will actually make it lawful to use e-rideables. A matter
of technology getting ahead of legislation meant that, at the moment, even
though they are incredibly popular and growing in number by the day, people are
using e-rideables unlawfully. We are going to enable people to use them in a lawful
fashion. We are going to set a few rules around it and make it a little bit
safer, and ensure that some businesses get the opportunity to create new
opportunities for work and employment here in Western Australia, and add to the
tourism sector's dynamism.
E-rideables include e-scooters,
e-skateboards, electric rollerskates and hoverboards, and, frighteningly,
e-unicycles—something I will not go anywhere near! The new regulations
will specify a speed limit of 25 kilometres
an hour for e-rideables on bike paths, shared paths and local roads, consistent
with regulations in Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and New
Zealand. The speed limit on footpaths and in pedestrian areas will be 10
kilometres an hour. Users will be required to give way to pedestrians and keep to the left of oncoming riders.
Users of e-rideables must be at least
16 years of age for the types of e-rideables that are able to travel at 25 kilometres
an hour. They must wear an approved helmet, use lights and reflectors at night,
and have a working warning device like a horn
or a bell. The same mobile phone, drink-driving and drug-driving rules
that apply to motor vehicles will apply to these guys. For children under 16
years, they are quite okay to continue to
use e-rideables with a power output of up to 200 watts, or a speed limit of 10 kilometres
an hour. That is still okay, for people who may have been concerned
about that.
We have made it safer. People will be
allowed to use e-rideables lawfully. I am sure e-rideables will grow in number
and that people in Western Australia will enthusiastically take up the
opportunity for an environmentally friendly way of getting around. From 4 December,
it will enable businesses to establish e-rideable rental opportunities. If
members go to cities around the world, even in Canberra and Brisbane right now,
they will see on many corners of CBDs the opportunity to grab one and rent it
to zip up the road a little way, getting around the city more effectively.
Places like Rottnest Island and Fremantle, and other places where it is
suitable for tourists, will benefit enormously.