Quick answer: shared e-scooters are available in several Australian cities, mainly through Lime, Neuron and Beam, but the rules and availability change from state to state and even council to council. As of September 2026 you can hire e-scooters in places such as Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and some Melbourne suburbs, but not in the City of Melbourne itself, and the City of Perth has suspended hire. In New South Wales, shared e-scooters are only allowed at official trial sites. Riders generally must be 16 or over and wear a helmet. Prices vary by city and are shown in the app.
How e-scooter sharing works in Australia
Each state and territory sets its own e-scooter laws, and councils decide whether to allow shared fleets and which companies can run them. That is why you can ride a shared scooter in one Melbourne suburb but not in the city centre next door, and why Sydney is treated differently from Brisbane or Adelaide.
The market also changed in 2025 and 2026. Neuron and Beam completed a merger in September 2025, keeping both brands. In April 2026 Lime replaced Neuron as the shared e-scooter provider in Canberra.
Who operates where (as of September 2026)
These lists come from operator pages and official council or government pages, checked in September 2026. Operators sometimes list places where they run only e-bikes, so check the app for your city.
| Operator | Cities and areas | Notes | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lime | Brisbane; Canberra (all major town centres); Port Phillip and other Melbourne council areas with agreements. Lime’s locations page also lists the Gold Coast and Sydney. | Launched in the ACT in April 2026 with e-scooters and, for the first time there, shared e-bikes. In Sydney, NSW law only allows shared e-scooters at trial sites, so check which vehicles the app offers. | li.me |
| Neuron | Brisbane; Adelaide; Port Phillip and other Melbourne council areas with agreements | Neuron says it operates in nine Australian cities but its site does not list them all. It has ceased operations in the ACT. Offers pay-per-ride rates plus 3-day, weekly and monthly passes. | rideneuron.com |
| Beam | Adelaide, Broome, Bunbury, Cairns, Darwin, Esperance, Forster-Tuncurry, Geraldton, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Port Douglas and Stirling | Beam’s own Australian list. Merged with Neuron in 2025, with both brands kept. | ridebeam.com |
City and state rules
Brisbane (Queensland)
Brisbane City Council says access to its shared e-mobility scheme is provided by Lime and Neuron. Its rules include:
- You must be at least 16 to use a shared device.
- Always wear a helmet.
- Maximum 12 km/h on footpaths and up to 25 km/h on separated paths and bikeways.
- You may ride on local streets only where the speed limit is 50 km/h and there is no dividing line.
- Footpaths, shared and separated paths, bike paths and qualifying bike lanes are allowed unless a “No PMD” sign says otherwise.
- Shared devices must be parked at official e-mobility parking hubs in high-demand areas.
Canberra (ACT)
The ACT Government says Lime shared e-scooters and e-bikes are available at Belconnen, City, Fyshwick, Gungahlin, Majura, Molonglo Valley, Tuggeranong, Weston Creek and Woden. Riders must be at least 16. Lime’s geofencing cuts speed to 10 km/h at priority crossings and 15 km/h in busy areas, and enforces no-ride zones and designated parking. The Minister encouraged all riders to wear a helmet.
Melbourne (Victoria)
E-scooters are no longer available to hire in the City of Melbourne, which now allows only shared e-bikes. Shared e-scooters still run in some other council areas. The City of Port Phillip says Lime and Neuron provide shared e-scooters locally and that Victoria has legislated to allow shared e-scooters in council areas that have agreements with operators. Port Phillip lists these rules:
- Riders must be 16 or over.
- Do not exceed 20 km/h.
- Wear a helmet at all times.
- Follow traffic rules. Some areas have no-riding or go-slow zones.
Adelaide (South Australia)
The City of Adelaide says Beam and Neuron operate shared e-scooters in the city, and it has opened an expression of interest to choose operators for an ongoing service after South Australia’s new personal mobility device laws took effect in July 2025. Rules for all riders include:
- Be 16 or older and wear an approved helmet at all times.
- Maximum 15 km/h on footpaths, shared paths and separated bike paths, always giving way to pedestrians.
- Maximum 25 km/h on roads with limits of 50 km/h or less, and in bike lanes on faster roads.
- Use flashing front and rear lights at night or in low light.
- No passengers, no handheld phone use, and no riding under the influence.
- Shared scooters must be parked upright and clear of footpaths, ramps and doorways. Rundle Mall and other pedestrian-priority zones are restricted.
Sydney and New South Wales
The NSW Government says it is illegal to ride a privately owned e-scooter on public roads and paths in NSW, and that shared e-scooters can only be ridden at designated trial sites. It lists Forster-Tuncurry (until 30 June 2026, so check whether it has been extended) and Wollongong (until 22 January 2027). NSW rules for shared e-scooters:
- You must be over 16.
- Wear an approved bicycle helmet at all times.
- Maximum 10 km/h on shared paths and 20 km/h on roads and bicycle lanes.
- Ride only on bicycle lanes, paths, shared paths and roads with limits of 50 km/h or less. Never on footpaths.
Perth (Western Australia)
The City of Perth says it previously ran an e-scooter share scheme with Beam and Neuron but has suspended the hiring of e-scooters until further notice. Beam still lists other Western Australian locations, including Bunbury, Geraldton, Esperance, Broome and Stirling.
How to book a shared e-scooter in Australia
- Check your council area allows shared e-scooters and which operator runs them.
- Download the operator’s app (Lime, Neuron or Beam) and create an account.
- Confirm you meet the minimum age, which is 16 in the places listed above.
- Have a helmet ready if the scooter does not come with one. Helmets are compulsory under the rules published for Victoria’s Port Phillip, South Australia and NSW trial sites.
- Find a scooter on the map, unlock it in the app and ride within the permitted area.
- Park in a designated parking hub or area, following the app, and end the trip.
What does it cost?
Prices vary by city and are shown in the app. Neuron says it offers pay-per-ride rates plus 3-day, weekly and monthly passes, and tells riders to check the Neuron app for pricing and passes in their city. None of the council pages we checked publish rates.
Tips for riders in Australia
- Check the rules for the exact council area, not just the city: Melbourne is a good example of how quickly they change.
- Wear a helmet on every ride.
- Keep to the lower footpath speed limits and always give way to pedestrians.
- Do not ride a private e-scooter in NSW public places, even inside a trial site.
- Look out for operator changes, such as Lime replacing Neuron in Canberra, which may mean downloading a new app.
Sources
- Lime: Locations (li.me)
- Neuron: Australia (rideneuron.com)
- Neuron: Merger completes (22 September 2025) (rideneuron.com)
- Beam: Global footprint (ridebeam.com)
- Brisbane City Council: E-mobility (brisbane.qld.gov.au)
- ACT Government: New shared e-scooter and e-bike service launches in the ACT (17 April 2026) (cmtedd.act.gov.au)
- City of Melbourne: E-scooters (melbourne.vic.gov.au)
- City of Port Phillip: E-scooter trial (portphillip.vic.gov.au)
- City of Adelaide: E-scooters (cityofadelaide.com.au)
- City of Perth: E-scooter trial (perth.wa.gov.au)
- NSW Government: About riding shared e-bikes and e-scooters (nsw.gov.au)