Routes for electric bikes, scooters coming into sight

People could be allowed to ride electric bikes and scooters on cycle tracks in Tseung Kwan O and Pak Shek Kok by the end of the year.

But speeds would not be allowed to exceed 25 kilometers per hour, said Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, a member of the Transport Department's electric mobility devices study group.

Electric-powered mobility devices including bicycles, scooters, unicycles, hoverboards and skateboards are banned on carriageways, footpaths and cycle tracks. Offenders can be imprisoned for up to three months and face fines of up to HK$5,000.

The Transport Department conducted trials on cycle tracks in Tseung Kwan O South and adjacent to the Hong Kong Science Park in 2021, followed by a six-month pilot study with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corp on part of the cycle track at Pak Shek Kok late last year.

Lee, president of the Hong Kong Automobile Association, said based on the study group's current findings the use of electric scooters and electric bicycles could be legal by the end of this year.

But hoverboards would remain banned because unlike scooters and bikes, the various other mobility devices do not have effective lighting and braking systems. "Riders also have to pay more attention to controling and staying balanced on hoverboard," Lee explained.

Lee also said batteries of mobility devices need to be regulated given the fire dangers involving batteries.

The top speed for e-bikes and scooters will be limited to 25 km/h, and authorities may require traders to fix the machines to stay within that limit when they import such devices.

And the weight of devices are in line to face limits.

Lee also said authorities will refer to current regulations and penalties for bicycle riders such as wearing helmets.

He also said people would be limited to scooters on designated cycle tracks and perhaps other facilities.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said in February that the Transport Department was conducting in-depth studies with other departments and people involved in the sector and also in other jurisdictions.

The intention was to report to the Legislative Council Panel on Transport in the first half of this year.