E-skate Law in your Country

Nice one!

Glad to see some progress… :slight_smile:

I know W.A. is in the process of writing something similar.

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In my born country, Colombia, I’m not so sure if there is a law for Esk8, probably not since its a new hobby. No cop chase Sk8ters, so they are invisible, but then, they don’t ride on the streets like in the US, only bikers do. So, what I’m trying to say is: the thing is sort of subliminal there; if you are noticed and the vehicle looks expensive, they will certainly apply some laws (stupid way of thinking: if you ‘look’ millionaire, ride expensive toys, and have fun, they will tax you, ban you an apply all sorts of laws in order to milk $$ you in all possible ways). If you pass unnoticed, nobody will care about you. I don’t think people will try to ride Esk8s there, they lack the childish, free relaxed attitude we Esk8ers have on other latitudes.

Thats why San Francisco is a haven, they became acostumed to us, they know we came to stay, we made our own room over these streets. Bike paths are ours now. So there is no turning back for anyone. We earned our right. So the mind set won the law battle before it started. If they ever try to ban us, or restrict the usage, they will face a challenge: how to restrict one vehicle when others are already there for long time? street cars, cable cars, bicycles, skateboards, scooters, skates… and now electric skateboards, electric scooters, electric bikes, electric monocycles. On a socialist melting pot city like this? Naawww!

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Changes achieved in Queensland Australia.

I received this email recently…

We are pleased to announce that as of today, electric skateboards are now legal to ride in public areas with some restrictions. Evolve Skateboards were part of this legislation process which was held in Melbourne recently along with Lime Scooters and one other mobility scooter manufacturer. We were the only electric skateboard company at this work shop event and were able to speak on behalf of the customer voice and make recommendations that we feel were fair for both road safety and electric skateboard users. We’re happy to say that every recommendation we made at the workshop has now been passed as law! Please see below a summary of what these law changes are -

  1. Electric Skateboards have access to paths, including foot paths, shared paths, separated paths and bicycle paths. When using a shared path, the bicycle side must be used.

  2. Users must not travel on a path where a ‘no PMD sign’ prohibits access. Local councils have the power to prohibit the use of these devices in areas such as malls, esplanades and jetties. A user travelling on a path must give way to pedestrians, travel at a safe speed appropriate to the conditions and be able to stop safely to avoid a collision with pedestrians. The on-the-spot fine offences against any of these provisions is $130.

  3. Electric Skateboards have been provided limited access to the road network for use on local roads. However, riders should avoid interacting with traffic and must not ride on main roads or CBD streets. Under the legislation, a user may travel on a road provided the road has a speed limit of 50km/h or less, has no dividing line or median strip and is not a one-way road with more than one marked lane. The on-the-spot fine for travelling on a prohibited road is $130.

  4. The maximum speed limit a user may travel is 25km/h. The on-the-spot fine for exceeding this speed limit is $174.

  5. The user must not be towed by a vehicle, and a user must not hold onto a vehicle while the vehicle is moving. They are also not permitted to travel within two metres of the rear of a moving vehicle for more than 200 metres. The on-the-spot fine for committing these offences is $130.

  6. To help ensure that rideables are used safely and responsibly, the on-the-spot fines for the following offences have been increased to $130:

• Fail to keep to the left on a path or road

• Ride more than two abreast on a road

• Have more than one rider on the device

• Fail to keep to the left of an oncoming bike rider on a path • Fail to have lights on at night or in poor weather. 7. Helmets are compulsory and no drink riding is permitted.

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This is great progress! Credit where it’s due, great work by Evolve Australia :slight_smile:

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Wow, really? Hell yeah! Those laws are so much better than I ever could have hoped for in Australia! Let’s hope NSW follows suit! :smiley:

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Australian policy makers want community input. E Mobility doc

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Everyone in Australia should be forwarding this document to all esk8 groups around the country and encouraging everyone to have a say on this. Public opinion will help to get us laws that are inclusive of our vehicles whilst also not being too restrictive

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It is a great opportunity to influence things like Top speed, bike path usage, ect.

I know that curtain decision makers still view eskate as toys and not as a viable travel mode.

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Hey man,

A nice article for Austria and Germany (in German):

Summary: in Austria yes, as long as they are not in roads (they are considered toys even if they have motors). Germany, its a no.

Regards!

Freddy

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