It's not easy to keep abreast of how different countries, federal states and cities world-wide are dealing with the advent of e-scooters, and CBTG posted on this issue back in November 2023, citing PACTS research on the safety of private e-scooters, Olly Wainright's 2023 article in the Guardian, and the then Government's response to its consultation on the issue (2022).

Whereas in the UK, the only current way (August 2024) to legally use an e-scooter - apart from on private land -  is in a shared rental e-scooter trial area *,  Melbourne (Victoria State) and Paris have gone the other way and both cities have banned shared rental e-scooter schemes over the last year.  Read about Melbourne here and Paris here.

Neither Melbourne nor Paris has however banned the use of private e-scooters!

The rules for Melbourne (Victoria State ) are strict - read them here:-

• Riders must use shared-use paths (but not footpaths), and roads that have a speed limit up to 60km/h
• Riders must be at least 16 years old
• Riders must wear a helmet
• Riders must not travel more than 20km/h
• Riders must not use your mobile phone
• Riders must not carry a passenger

The French rules (read them in French (Google translate?) here) are also very strict and largely mirror Australian practice but....

• Unlike Melbourne, French riders must be at least 14 years old
• Insurance is compulsory
• In built-up areas riders must use shared paths and must not use roads with a speed limit of over 50 km/h
• Riders must not use their phone and must not wear headphones
• Outside built-up areas e-scooter riders must use cycle paths and 'green routes' and their use is also permitted on certain roads with a maximum speed limit of 80km/h as long as the rider is wearing a helmet, has reflective devices on the scooter and has lights on the front of the scooter

In the UK E-scooters  are defined as "Powered Transporters " (here)

The DfT describes their use in these terms:-

“Powered transporters” is a term used to cover a variety of novel and emerging personal transport devices which are powered by a motor, including e-scooters.

 Given how powered transporters are motorised and designed, they fall within the legal definition of a “motor vehicle”. Therefore the laws that apply to motor vehicles apply to powered transporters.

It is illegal to use a powered transporter:

• on a public road without complying with a number of legal requirements, which potential users will find very difficult
• in spaces that are set aside for use by pedestrians, cyclists, and horse-riders; this includes on the pavement and in cycle lanes

Any person who uses a powered transporter on a public road or other prohibited space in breach of the law is committing a criminal offence and can be prosecuted"

* The Micromobility unit at the DfT (micromobility@dft.gov.uk) reports (August 2024) that the following trials have been paused

• Buckinghamshire (Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Princes Risborough)
• North Devon
• Slough
• Somerset (Taunton, Minehead and Yeovil)