Electric scooters and bikes

If you want to use an electric scooter, also known as an e-scooter, you don’t need a driver licence or learner permit.

But you must follow the rules below.

If you don’t, you may be fined, receive demerit points or have your licence disqualified.

To use an electric bike (e-bike), you must ride them how you would ride a regular bicycle. Read more about bicycle safety.

You can hire e-scooters and e-bikes in the Darwin area, under an agreement with Beam Mobility Australia and the City of Darwin. Find out more on the City of Darwin website.

Rules for riding a Beam e-scooter

You can only use e-scooters in public places if they're provided by Beam Mobility Australia.

To hire and ride an e-scooter, you must:

• be at least 18 years old
• wear an approved bike helmet that is securely fitted
• only ride on footpaths and shared paths and bicycle lanes, unless prohibited
• keep to the left
• give way to any pedestrians.

You can only travel on a road for a distance of less than 50m if:

• there is an obstruction on a footpath, nature strip, or shared path
• it is impracticable to travel on the adjacent area.

You must also not:

• carry passengers or use a mobile phone
• have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05 or more
• take them on public transport or outside of areas permitted by authorities.

For your safety, scooters are also:

• speed limited to 15 km/h
• fitted with an electronic warning device eg. bell
• fitted with front and rear lights which must be operating for use at night.

Rules for riding your own e-scooter

If you own an e-scooter, you can only ride it on private property.

You can’t ride it on roads, footpaths or other public spaces.

If you're caught riding an unapproved e-scooter, you may be fined for driving an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle.

Read about traffic offence fines and demerit points.

Contact

For help, contact Beam:

• through the ‘support’ button of their app
• by calling their helpline 1300 507 676 (toll-free number)
• via email to teamsupportau@ridebeam.com.

To report a Beam vehicle or rider, submit a report on the Beam website. Include the registration number (if possible) and details of the rider's behaviour including location and time.

If the rider is breaking the law or using a privately owned e-scooter or e-bike, refer the matter to the police.