South Australia is reviewing its e-scooter laws, here's what happens next
South Australia's Department for Infrastructure and Transport has opened a formal review of the state's e-scooter and e-bike rules, a year after private e-scooters were first legalised on SA footpaths and roads. The public survey closed on 16 August 2026 and the department is now evaluating the feedback.
Last reviewed 23 Aug 2026
A person locking up an electric scooter in an urban area. Photo for illustration.
Key points
- The review checks whether SA's rules, introduced when private e-scooters were legalised on 13 July 2025, are still fit for purpose.
- E-bike rules are included too, following safety concerns about illegal e-bikes raised by the community and road safety stakeholders.
- A public YourSAy survey opened 26 June 2026, covering licensing requirements, speed limits and road network access, and closed 16 August 2026. No outcome had been announced as of 23 August 2026.
- Current SA rules: helmet required, no licence needed, 10 km/h on footpaths and shared paths, 25 km/h on eligible roads and bike lanes.
- After the survey, the review moves to further engagement with the AMA, the Centre for Automotive Safety Research, SA Police and the RAA.
What's actually happening
South Australia's Department for Infrastructure and Transport has opened a public review of the state's e-scooter and personal mobility device (PMD) rules, just over a year after private e-scooters were first legalised for use on SA footpaths, shared paths, bike paths and many roads on 13 July 2025. The department says the review will check how the rules are working in real-world conditions and identify where improvements are needed to better balance safety, accessibility and enforceability. E-bike rules, though regulated separately, have been folded into the same review in response to safety concerns raised about illegal e-bikes.
How the consultation ran
A public survey through the state's YourSAy platform opened 26 June 2026 and ran for six weeks, closing Sunday 16 August 2026. It asked South Australians for views on licensing requirements, speed limits and road network access. With the survey now closed, the department is evaluating the feedback alongside data and evidence before moving into further engagement with industry representatives, local government and road safety experts, specifically named as the Australian Medical Association, the Centre for Automotive Safety Research, South Australia Police and the RAA.
What the current SA rules actually are
For context, here's where things currently stand in South Australia while the review is underway. Riders need a helmet but not a licence, similar to riding a bicycle. On footpaths, beaches and shared paths, the speed cap is 10 km/h, a stricter limit than the national 25 km/h device ceiling. On roads with a speed limit of 60 km/h or under, e-scooters are permitted but must use the bike lane and stay under 25 km/h. Other PMDs, including e-skateboards and e-solo-wheels, are permitted on roads up to a 50 km/h limit under the same 25 km/h cap. Compliant e-bikes, by contrast, are permitted on roads wherever bicycles are, following the full posted road speed limit rather than a device-specific cap.
Why this matters if you ride or are buying in SA
A review doesn't mean the rules are changing yet, but it's a genuine signal that speed limits, licensing and road access in SA could shift depending on what the consultation finds, particularly given the review is happening against a backdrop of rising national concern about e-scooter safety, see our coverage of the recent UNSW study on rising e-scooter injuries. If you're an SA rider or considering a purchase, this is worth keeping an eye on rather than assuming today's rules are locked in. As of late August 2026 the current rules remain in force unchanged. For the current picture across every state, see our guide to are electric scooters legal in Australia.
The department has been explicit that this isn't a rubber stamp exercise: the review exists specifically to check whether SA's year-old e-scooter rules are still fit for purpose given how the technology and its use has evolved since they were introduced, and it's asking the public directly rather than deciding in a vacuum.
Frequently asked questions
Why is South Australia reviewing its e-scooter laws?
To check the rules introduced when private e-scooters were legalised on 13 July 2025 are still fit for purpose, following safety and shared-space concerns raised by the community.
What are the current e-scooter rules in South Australia?
Helmet required, no licence needed, 10 km/h on footpaths and shared paths, 25 km/h on eligible roads and bike lanes.
Could the SA e-scooter rules change?
Possibly. The review looked at licensing requirements, speed limits and road network access. Any changes will follow the department's evaluation and further stakeholder engagement; the current 2025 rules remain in force until then.
When did the SA e-scooter law review close?
The public survey closed on Sunday 16 August 2026. The department is now evaluating responses with road safety stakeholders; no outcome had been announced as of 23 August 2026.
Sources
- SA Department for Infrastructure and Transport: Review of e-scooter laws commences (checked 19 Jul 2026)
- SA Government My Licence: Personal Mobility Devices (checked 19 Jul 2026)