Gawler’s Michael Jacob, mycomputerman proprietor, and John Bolton believe that electric light vehicles should be legal to use in South Australia, following in the footsteps of other states around the country. PHOTO: Brendan Simpkins.
Brendan Simpkins
A GAWLER East man is seeking ministerial approval to ride his electric skateboard in South Australia despite it being legal in other states.
John Bolton has owned an electric skateboard for three years and has ridden it around Australian landmarks such as Sydney Harbour and Parliament House in Canberra.
But he in unable to ride it in his home state.
It is a breach of the Road Traffic Act 1961 for a light vehicle to be on roads, footpaths or pedestrian tracks without the approval of the transport minister.
Electric skateboards and scooters are considered are considered a light vehicle and offences range from $121 to $171.
Mr Bolton felt South Australian Laws had failed to keep up with modern electronics.
“The perfect example of that is it is perfectly lawful to use a skateboard to go down a hill, on a road where there is no mixed traffic and no brakes,” he said.
“I have perfectly good brakes on my e-skateboard but I’m unlawful for doing that.
“So, I think even the safety obsessed need to recognise that riding a skateboard with electric brakes is a lot safer than riding a skateboard without brakes.”
Mr Bolton owns a GTR skateboard purchased from Queensland-based company Evolve.
It has a top speed of 36 kilometres/hour and is two-wheel drive, with reverse polarity electric brakes on both drive wheels.
He suggested that electric vehicles be subject to the same road rules as cyclists, sticking to a top speed of 25km/h and fitting lights to be visible at night.
Mr Bolton said many benefits came with using electric light vehicles, such as health and tourism.
“I would love to be able to go out to North Haven or Largs and electric skateboard on the coastal path all the way down, that’s a great day,” he said.
Member of the Legislative Council Mark Parnell asked in question time on May 12, 2020 about the use of privately owned e-scooters.
E-scooters are able to be ridden in Adelaide and North Adelaide as part of ongoing trials, however they were paused due to COVID-19.
Ridesharing companies Beam and Neuron are two transport options, while Lime previously operated in the CBD as well.
Mr Parnell asked if private e-scooters would fall under the same regulations as commercial e-scooters once trials resume and what the State Government’s future plans for the vehicles were.
He later received a response from then minister for transport Stephan Knoll on June 30 which stated that the use of e-scooters and skateboards raised a number of complex issues, such as speed limits and where they should be used.
