State government says ‘sensible rules’ will promote health and lifestyle benefits of electric scooters and bikes while keeping users and others safe

This seems like a sensible but odd carveout. The law is essentially legalising e-scooters on shared paths, and bike lanes on roads with no more than 20km/h. The proposition does not allow them on footpaths, which you’d think would be the most relevant place. Personally, I’m surprised they wouldn’t allow them on footpaths but no more than 5 km/h in heavy pedestrian areas (anywhere a car would have to do 40 km/h or less), especially since you could potentially require shared e-scooters to enforce this speed with GPS.

    • dumblederp
      6·
      19 days ago

      In Victoria, there’s a number of paths designated for both pedestrians and cyclists. They’re incredibly shit for both parties IMO. Kids, dogs and idiots ruin the experience, I prefer to cycle on the road with cars who are more predictable and follow the rules better. We really need to be building separate walking and a bike/microtransit paths.

      I assume it’s the same in Sydney but I have no experience there.

      • ZagorathEnglish
        6·
        19 days ago

        Shared paths are good on low volume recreational paths. For serious commuting or paths where there’s large numbers of people, they’re shit.

      • techno_analyst
        1·
        19 days ago

        They’re not too bad in my part of Sydney, though you do get the occasional teenager or delivery rider zooming through on an e-bike that has probably had the limiter removed/bypassed.