E-micromobility focus outcomes

Improving road safety outcomes

E-scooters and e-bikes are reshaping how roads, paths, and shared spaces are used across the transport network. The increasing use of e-micromobility devices brings substantial benefits. it also presents new safety challenges and potential risks of road trauma, with associated community costs.

E-micromobility riders are among the most vulnerable road users, as they lack the physical protection afforded to occupants of motor vehicles.

In NSW, we take a Safe System approach and work towards the ultimate goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries on NSW roads.

To ensure people feel and are safe on NSW roads and paths, we need to:

• better understand how people are riding and behaving on e-micromobility devices
• provide the right infrastructure and support street design that allows for safe riding
• set speed limits appropriately
• set clear rules to support safety outcomes and educate people on how to stay safe on and around e-micromobility devices, growing respect between motorists, riders and pedestrians
• ensure devices on the network are safe
• enforce the rules.

Reducing fire risks and harm to people, infrastructure and assets

E-scooters and e-bikes are commonly powered by lithium-ion batteries. These batteries can present a fire and explosion risk, particularly when they are of inferior quality, uncertified, modified, damaged or improperly charged.

With the growth in device numbers in NSW, there has also been a rise in the number of related fires. In 2024, 100 fire incidents were linked to e-micromobility devices, accounting for 31 per cent of all lithium-ion battery fires that year.

Given the profile of lithium-ion battery fires, it is clear they can do significant damage to people, property and infrastructure. To reduce the risk of fires and the impact of fires when they do occur, we need to:

• continue to progress and advocate for a robust, standards-based regulatory framework to improve battery standards both in NSW and nationally and help people to choose a better-quality product
• educate and enable people to take steps to reduce the likelihood of battery failure and reduce the severity of the outcomes in the event of a fire
• make sure there are places for people to dispose of batteries safely, and educate people about the need for safe battery disposal
• understand and mitigate the risks to people and for different asset and infrastructure types and in different operational environments, including when riders are carrying devices on public transport services as part of their journey
• continue research programs to better understand the risk factors related to lithium-ion batteries and fire behaviour
• continue to improve operational and emergency response processes related to lithium-ion battery fires.

Lithium-ion battery risks span homes, schools, workplaces, waste facilities and transport environments, requiring coordinated action across multiple NSW Government agencies.

Encouraging uptake

For the full benefits of e-micromobility to be realised, we need more people to ride more often.

As of October 2024:

• 20% of adults (18+ years old) own or lease an e-bike, or had ridden one in the past 12 months.
• 11% of adults (18+ years old) own or lease an e-scooter or had ridden one in the past 12 months. This includes shared e-scooter rides in trial sites.
• 38% of young people (12-17 years old) own or lease an e-bike, or had ridden one in the past 12 months.
• 40% of young people (12-17 years old) own or lease an e-scooter, or had ridden one in the past 12 months.

While the proportion of riders taking regular trips is relatively low, about half plan to use their e-bike weekly or more often and more than 40 per cent of e-scooter riders plan to do the same.

The top five factors that are impacting people choosing to ride (and choosing to ride more often) are:

• people not feeling safe when travelling near other vehicles
• a lack of secure parking facilities and lockers at the person’s destination or transport interchange
• paths being too busy with other riders or pedestrians, making people feel unsafe to ride
• a lack of separated bike riding infrastructure on people’s preferred route/s
• the poor or unsafe condition of roads and/or paths.

Regardless of whether they ride or not, most people believe there is a lack of respect for people who ride e-scooters and e-bikes.

Addressing all of these key factors will help increase the number of trips taken by e-micromobility devices and help NSW maximise the positive outcomes e-micromobility can deliver.

Find out how the NSW Government is delivering on these outcomes through the NSW E-micromobility Action Plan 2025 (PDF 498.11KB).