top of page

A reminder of the law on skateboards and public roads

  • Writer: The Beagle
    The Beagle
  • Sep 14, 2020
  • 2 min read

There may be a few skateboarders in the region unaware of the road rules around skateboards. Two have been spotted in recent weeks on the Clyde. The law

A pedestrian includes "a person in or on a wheeled recreational device or wheeled toy". This includes rollerblades, a skateboard, scooter, unicycle or similar wheeled device:

  • Foot scooters, skateboards and rollerblades may be ridden on footpaths unless signs specifically prohibit them, however, riders must keep to the left and give way to other pedestrians.

  • Powered foot scooters and skateboards cannot be registered and can only be used on private land

  • On separated bicycle and pedestrian paths, foot scooter, skateboard and rollerblade riders must use the section designated for bicycles, but must keep out of the path of any bicycle

  • Foot scooters, skateboards and rollerblades can only be used on the road during daylight hours

  • They cannot be used on roads with a dividing line or median strip or a speed limit greater than 50km/h, or a one-way road with more than one marked lane

Safety advice

  • Foot scooter, skateboard and rollerblade riders should wear helmets and protective gear such as knee and elbow pads

  • The use of foot scooters, skateboards and rollerblades on the road is not recommended for school-aged or younger children In NSW, Rule 240 Road Rules 2014 (NSW) outlines the law on using wheeled recreational devices and toys on certain roads.

There is a maximum penalty of $2,200 fine that a court can impose in NSW if you travel in or on a wheeled recreational device or wheeled toy in either one of the following circumstances:

  1. On a road with a dividing line or median strip, or

  2. On a road on which the speed limit is greater than 50 kilometres per hour, or

  3. On a one-way road with more than 1 marked lane.

VIDEO: This classic video of a decent of the Clyde recorded in 2016 is a good example of a skateboarder breaking the rule of using the skateboard on a road with a dividing line. Speed unknown.

NOTE: Comments were TRIALED - in the end it failed as humans will be humans and it turned into a pile of merde; only contributed to by just a handful who did little to add to the conversation of the issue at hand. Anyone who would like to contribute an opinion are encouraged to send in a Letter to the Editor where it might be considered for publication

bottom of page