EUC Legalisation in Australia: A 2021 Archive
Archive note added 4 October 2026: This article was originally published on 31 July 2021. It records the proposals and expectations discussed at that time and is not a guide to current riding rules. The original headline predicted Australia-wide legalisation; it should not be read as confirmation that an EUC can be used in every state or on every public road or path.
Check current official rules before riding
Check the transport authority for your state or territory and any rules for the specific location and device. For example, Queensland publishes current personal mobility device rules that include device eligibility, rider requirements and permitted locations. Those rules do not establish permission in another jurisdiction.
Original 2021 article
The following text is retained as a historical record. Its legal statements, predictions and campaign plans have not been updated to reflect current conditions.
Australia's Transport and Infrastructure Council recently voted to amend the Australian Road Rules to include Personal Mobility Devices - a category that includes e-scooters, electric skateboards, and of course, electric unicycles (EUCs or EUNIs). This is the first time our devices are being officially recognised by the government, and is the biggest step in having consistent laws across Australia legalising their use!
Unfortunately it doesn't quite mean they're legal everywhere yet. I've compiled a few commonly-asked questions below - we will have more information available on our website and Facebook pages so do check us out.
Is it now legal to ride my device outside?
If you live in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia or the Northern Territory, it is still illegal to ride a PMD in a public area.
PMDs do not fit neatly within the categories of pedestrian, bicycle, wheeled toy, motorcycle or car, so there are no rules in place allowing you to ride on a footpath, shared path, cycleway or public road. If caught, a law enforcement officer can treat your vehicle as any of the above and issue anything from a fine for improperly using a footpath, through to driving an unregistered Class A motor vehicle, which can result in a fine, demerit points and the impounding of your device.
Will it be legal to ride my device in public?
With these new amendments to the Australian Road Rules, the intention is that every state and territory will have the same consistent rules allowing us to legally use our devices on public footpaths, shared paths, cycleways and local roads.
Though the ARRs are model laws and not legally binding, it has historically been very rare that an amendment has been endorsed by the Transport and Infrastructure Council (comprising of the transport ministers from each state) but then rejected or significantly altered by a state or territory.
There is a high likelihood that every state will legalise the use of PMDs in line with the ARR rules.
Eventually.
What can we do to speed up the process?
Now is the time to start writing in to your own State members of parliament, urging them to implement these amendments as soon as possible. Join our volunteers and insiders group on Facebook and share any letters you have written, as well as any responses you have received. We will also post up some templates you can use.
In the coming weeks we will also be launching petitions for each state where PMDs have yet to be legalised. These petitions will be tailored for each jurisdiction, targeting the members of parliament that will make the biggest difference.
We will also be launching a large video and social media marketing campaign, with positive messages to promote PMD use and rally the Australian public behind the movement. Having a groundswell of public support is what will make a difference between having legalisation soon, and legalisation 2-3 years away.
Jonno is a recent convert to electric unicycles, and he also chairs Electric Riders Australia - a non-profit advocacy group providing a united voice for all electric Personal Mobility Device owners, riders and businesses, and calling for the legalisation of these PMDs Australia.
1 comment
Good old policy makers who have zero clue about the subject that their laws effect the lives of millions of. I want an Ebike to replace my car, Ive seen how some people drive and I am not risking my life sharing the roads with cars overtaking me because some moron thought 250w was a sensible limit. Why they didn’t just make a 50cc equivelent Ebike law is beyond comprehension….Which is about 1200w fyi.