Sharing the road with e-scooters and e-bikes

By the end of this topic you can

• You can scan for e-scooters and e-bikes in bike lanes, on shared paths and at driveways
• You can pass a rider with a safe gap and at a safe speed
• You can turn across a bike lane without cutting off a rider
• You can open your door safely after parking
• You can judge the speed of an e-bike or e-scooter more accurately

What you need to know and understand

• Riders of legal e-bikes follow bicycle rules, and e-scooter rules vary by state
• E-bikes and e-scooters can travel at around 25 km/h, much faster than a pedal cyclist many people picture
• Minimum passing distance laws for bike riders apply in states such as NSW and Queensland: at least 1 metre up to 60 km/h and 1.5 metres above 60 km/h
• Riders are small and easy to miss in mirrors and blind spots
• Opening a car door into a rider's path is dangerous and an offence under the road rules
• Riders may come off a shared path or footpath at driveways and crossings

Where to expect them

In states where hire scooters operate, expect them in town centres and near universities, often ridden by people new to them.

• In bike lanes on the left of the road, sometimes alongside parked cars
• On shared paths that cross side streets, driveways and car park exits
• On footpaths where your state allows it, so check before reversing out of a driveway
• At intersections, waiting at the front of traffic or filtering through slow cars

Passing a rider safely

In NSW and Queensland, for example, drivers must leave at least 1 metre when passing a bike rider where the limit is 60 km/h or less, and 1.5 metres where it is over 60 km/h. Other states and territories have their own passing rules, so learn the one that applies where you drive. If there is not enough room, wait.

1. Check your mirrors and the road ahead for oncoming traffic
2. Slow down behind the rider until it is safe to pass
3. Give at least the minimum passing gap your state requires, and more if you can
4. Pass smoothly without sounding the horn unless it is needed to warn them
5. Do not cut back in until the rider is well clear in your mirror

Turns, doors and driveways

Left turns are a high-risk moment. A rider in the bike lane may be travelling faster than you think and come up on your left as you turn. Check your left mirror and blind spot before you indicate and again before you turn, and give way to riders going straight.

When you park, look in your mirror and over your shoulder before opening the door. Using the hand furthest from the door, often called the Dutch reach, makes you turn your body and look back. When driving out of a driveway, stop at the footpath and look both ways for fast riders as well as people walking.

• Do: judge speed carefully, as riders may be doing around 25 km/h
• Do: leave extra room at night and in the wet
• Do not: overtake a rider just before turning left
• Do not: assume a rider will stop at a driveway

Common mistakes

• Misjudging speed: treat a rider as faster than a walking pace cyclist and allow more time
• Passing too closely: give the legal minimum gap or wait behind
• Turning left across a bike lane without a head check: check the mirror and blind spot first
• Opening a door without looking: check mirrors and look back before opening
• Reversing out of a driveway quickly: stop and look for riders on the footpath and path

Test yourself: Sharing the road with e-scooters and e-bikes

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• E-Scooter Rules in Australia
• Sharing the Road with Trucks, Buses and Road Trains in Australia