Rules for riding personal mobility devices and e-bikes

Posted 4 November, 2026 Lauren Ferrone

A little more than a year has passed since people were first allowed to ride e-scooters and other personal mobility devices on roads and footpaths in South Australia.

However, according to a new RAA survey, many road users are still unaware of some of the most basic rules of riding responsibly.

With nearly a quarter of South Australian households owning an e-scooter, keeping up to speed with the dos and don’ts of riding personal mobility devices (PMDs) and e-bikes is important. This edition, we answer a few frequently asked questions about riding PMDs – think e-scooters, e-skateboards and even e-solo wheels, which are otherwise known as electric unicycles.

How old do I have to be to ride?

Just like driving a car, you must be at least 16 years old to ride PMDs, like an e-scooter, in a public area. Public areas include roads, footpaths or shared paths and parks.

Alarmingly, RAA’s recent e-mobility survey revealed a staggering 77 per cent of people were unaware of the minimum riding age, with more than half of the respondents (61 per cent) unsure if a minimum age existed at all.

Tragically, one in three e-scooter fatalities in Australia are children, with 50 per cent suffering head injuries when seriously hurt riding. RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says parents should be particularly aware of the statistics before buying an e-scooter for their child. “A child may in fact be too young to ride so it’s important to know the laws that exist to protect them,” Charles says.

Do I need a licence?

While you need to be a certain age to ride, you don’t require a licence to ride a standard e-bike or e-scooter on public roads or paths in South Australia. You also don’t need to register the device unless it exceeds wattage or speed limits. In this case it can be classified as a motor vehicle which would then require registration, insurance and a licence. Check mylicence.sa.gov.au to make sure you’re on top of licensing regulations before buying an e-scooter or e-bike.

Where can I ride and is there a speed limit?

People have been able to legally ride e-scooters on public roads and paths in South Australia since July last year. However, 85 per cent of respondents in the recent RAA survey still admitted to not knowing the maximum speed limit when riding these devices.

“Different speeds apply depending on where you’re riding so the rules can easily trip people up,” Charles says.

Let’s break it down

First things first, the maximum speed you can travel on an e-scooter is 25km/h, unless you’re riding on the footpath and, in this case, you can’t exceed 10km/h.

If you’re on a road where the speed limit is 50km/h or less, you can ride an e-scooter or e-bike on the road even when there isn’t a bicycle lane available.

If there is a bicycle lane, you should use it. If the speed limit on the road is 60km/h you can only ride on the road when there’s a bicycle lane and you must ride in it. If there isn’t a bicycle lane on a 60km/h road, you must ride on the footpath and not exceed 10km/h.

“It’s not just about how fast you can go but how safely you share the path, especially with people on foot,” Charles says. “No matter where or at what speed you’re riding, remember to always give way to pedestrians and remain alert of your surroundings.”

Can I use my phone while riding?

Yes and no. Let’s rewind – you can use your mobile phone while travelling on an e-scooter and e-bike but not in the way you might think.

The phone must be securely mounted in a cradle attached to the handlebars and it can only be used as a speedometer or a GPS device to help you get where you need to go safely – much in the same way it’s used when you’re driving a car.

Caught texting or chatting on the phone while riding? You can be fined $72.