NSW Shared E-scooter Trial Program
We are running the Shared E-scooter Trial Program to help us understand the demand for shared e-scooters, safety and community sentiment. NSW councils and NSW Government land managers can apply to run a trial in their local area. Find out about the program and how to run a trial.
About the Shared E-scooter Trial Program
The NSW Government is working closely with local councils to trial shared e-scooters in sites across NSW. The program is part of our response to the growing popularity of e-scooters and the need to safely manage their use.
Trials collect information about the demand for e-scooters, safety and community sentiment. This is helping to inform our plans for the future of e-scooters in NSW.
Councils have partnered with businesses providing shared e-scooter services (known as operators) and made an application to Transport for NSW.
Transport for NSW has declared selected roads and areas as an ‘Electric Scooter Use Area’ under NSW road rules. This makes it legal for shared e-scooters to be ridden in that area.
Councils are delivering trials to help reduce car dependence, provide new travel choices for their communities, improve environmental outcomes, address local traffic and parking constraints and support visitor economies.
Current trial sites
Shared e-scooter trials are operating in:
• Forster-Tuncurry until 30 June 2025
• Wollongong until 30 June 2025.
Trials have also operated in Western Sydney Parklands and the Australian Botanic Gardens Mount Annan, Lake Macquarie, Armidale, Kogarah and Albury.
Learn about safe riding in shared e-scooter trial sites
Rules and parameters for community and rider safety
There are parameters and road rules in place to ensure the trials are delivered safely. Data is captured on crashes and other safety incidents to help Transport understand safety risks and evaluate the trials.
View Summary of key trial parameters (PDF 201.37KB).
These rules include:
- People riding shared e-scooters must wear an approved bicycle helmet and must be 16 years old or over.
- Shared e-scooters can be ridden on:
o bicycle paths
o shared paths (which can be identified by signs and/or pavement markings showing a pedestrian and a bicycle)
o roads (including bicycle lanes) where the speed limit is 50 km/h or slower. - Shared e-scooters cannot be ridden on footpaths.
- Speeds are limited to:
o 20km/h on bicycle paths/lanes and roads
o 10km/h on shared paths.
Applying to run a trial
If you are from a council and are considering hosting a trial, please contact the program team on e-scootertrial@transport.nsw.gov.au