What does the law say on motorized boards here and globally?

What does the law say on motorized boards?

No matter where you ride, hours of research can be summarized in an answer starting with “No, but…” and in one rare instance (California) “Yes”. Despite this, the electric board sector is growing fast, board makers are multiplying, and powered skateboards can be seen in use in cities all over the world.

To understand the long answer that usually follows the “but…”, keep one thing in mind: electric skateboards are new.

Some countries like, Australia are making progress giving e-skaters rights to roll since they are considered as “wheeled recreational devices.” Unlike cyclists, skateboarders are classed as pedestrians. This means you cannot ride your electric skateboard on roads with median strips, one-way roads with more than one marked lane or any road where the speed limit is greater than 50 kilometers per hour.

The good news for people living in Sweden is that e-skates have recently been assimilated as bikes and given them the same rights with a few speed limitations.

Most countries and localities haven’t yet seen the need to enact a motorized board law or don’t even know what e-skates are. Even California’s unique and visionary law has enough caveats to show they are out of step with current e-skate technology. We predict that the greater need for cleaner and less congested cities will accelerate and evolve the attitudes of our lawmakers and law enforcers. E-riders, as pioneers of this sustainable future, mustn’t be discouraged and should merely educate themselves before riding – this simple act will contribute to bringing change.

Fined $598 for going down a hill in Kitsilano, Vancouver. from vancouver

When an electric skateboard isn’t an electric skateboard

Californian law AB-604 defines an ‘electrically motorized board’ as “any wheeled device that…has an electric propulsion system averaging less than 1,000 watts, the maximum speed of which…is no more than 20 miles per hour.” Whereas the two most well-known Californian electric skateboard manufacturers advertise top speeds of 22 mph, and the Mellow Drive itself will reach speeds of over 24 mph. Electronic skateboarding is indeed legal now in California, but not as many would like to practice it.

Neither here nor there

The absence of a specific ‘electric skateboard law’ does NOT mean that electric skateboarding is legal. Whether it be New York, Berlin or London, the self-propelled, non-human powered aspect of since e-skates classify them as “motor vehicle”, and therefore potentially usable on roadways and in traffic. Unfortunately, laws require any motor vehicle to be registered and insured, and requests for these will simply make your local vehicle authority or insurance company chuckle.

Thank E-bikes and Segways

The e-bike and Segway were originally illegal for exactly the same reasons described above. Nevertheless, more widespread use and successful lobbying helped bring acceptance and tolerance with law enforcement, with the solutions they offered capturing the attention of lawmakers. The majority of permissive new laws for e-bikes have sprung up worldwide in only the last 3 to 4 years, with some countries even adopting others’ standards. Segways in Germany now sport little license plates, and enjoy permissive regulations in most American states.

As recently as 10 March 2017, the German parliament voted to legalize e-bikes by inclusion into the same classification as Pedelecs and conventional bicycles.

Canada Your choice:

Legality: Laws and regulations regarding electric vehicles, electric longboards or electric skateboards, and regular longboards/skateboards vary by country, province, and municipality, so please check the legal status of this product before you ride it – Boosted Brand Page.

For tomorrow, we see a future where e-skaters can enjoy responsible use anywhere.

Welcome to the revolution.