Scooters in Australia are not as ubiquitous as they are in many European cities, but, especially in some areas of the Australian capital cities, the perception is that their use is increasing.
The truth is the scooter sector is struggling to grow at the same rate as the automotive market.
Among the reasons for the slow-down are the costs and the commitment associated with obtaining a special drivers licence, which in some of the major states, such as New South Wales and Victoria, is also necessary for scooters with engine capacities under 50cc.
"Sales of new scooters in Australia have been recovering in the last year, after four years of drops that followed the global financial crisis” Rhys Griffiths, Motorcycle Manager of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, told SBS Italian.
“Drops in sales in the order of 35 to 40 per cent, represent a situation not dissimilar to the one of many European nations”, he said. "From 2002 to 2010, sales of motorcycles and scooters in Australia have been steadily and significantly increasing, even though many of the scooters purchased at that time were rarely used, relegated to the bottom of the garage."
According to Griffiths, many of the scooters purchased during those 'golden years', which have been kept in very good condition as a result of not being used, are now filling the streets of our cities. Commuters, he says, have discovered them as an efficient and relatively inexpensive way to get to work.
While the market for new vehicles appears to be growing slowly, the second-hand market appears stronger. Yet, according to Griffiths, there are other factors that are limiting the expansion of the scooter market.
"Electric bicycles are increasingly high-tech and sophisticated, and have advantages over scooters," he says, "for the costs of safety equipment for the driver and the advantage of being able to use the preferential lanes for pushbikes.".
But above all, it is because it is not necessary to hold a licence to ride them.
Where is a licence necessary?
In some Australian states and territories a regular drivers licence is enough to drive a scooter, but in the Eastern capital cities a specific licence must be obtained.
What's more increasing costs coupled with the time and bureaucratic steps needed to obtain motorcycle driving licences are deterrents for many potential buyers of two-wheeled vehicles.
In addition, each state has different regulations regarding motorcycle licences. In some, for example, it is sufficient to have a car licence to ride a motorcycle with a maximum engine capacity of 50cc and a maximum speed of 50 km/h and it is not necessary to obtain a specific driving licence. The same applies to electric vehicles that reach 50 km/h.
The states where one can drive a scooter with your car licence are Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia.
QLD: www.transport.qld.gov.au/licensingrego
WA: www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/
As for the other states and territories, even to drive a small scooter you must pass the theoretical, practical tests and road tests required for a normal motorcycle licence.
NSW: www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing
ACT: www.rego.act.gov.au
And if I have a foreign licence?
If you are a visitor or a temporary visa holder, in most Australian states and territories (except the Northern Territory) you can drive on a current overseas licence. If your licence is in a language other than English, you must also carry an official English translation or an International Driving Permit. An official translation means a translation certified by an Embassy or Consulate or by an authorised translator.
Often migrants will need to change their overseas licence to a local one. If you are a permanent visa holder, then you must convert your overseas licence within either three or six months of arrival. The process to convert your licence slightly differs according to the state or the territory you live in. People from certain countries can convert their licence to an Australian one and not sit any tests.
"I arrived in Australia with a standard Italian driving licence and a full one for motorcycles", says Tano Mozzo, President of the Sydney Vespa Club. "After translating my licences into English, I was allowed to drive motorcycles with a capacity not exceeding 125cc , a restriction that was lifted after I took a supplementary test.".
For more information on requirements for foreign licence holders, visit this Australian Government website.
