Can You Ride an E-Bike or E-Scooter on Bali's Roads?

Generally, no. Ministry of Transportation Regulation PM 45 of 2020 on certain vehicles with electric motors covers e-scooters, e-bikes, hoverboards, electric unicycles and kick scooters. Its Article 5 only allows them in dedicated lanes (bike lanes or lanes for these electric vehicles) and in certain areas: residential neighbourhoods, roads during car-free days, tourist areas, around mass-transit stops, office areas, and off-road areas. Speed is capped at 25 km/h. Provincial roads or the bypass you share with trucks and buses are not on the list. The summary of articles below follows Hukumonline's legal clinic (updated 17 January 2024) and was checked in October 2026.

Rider requirements under PM 45/2020

• Minimum age 12. Riders aged 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult.
• A helmet is mandatory.
• No passengers, except on an e-bike that actually has a passenger seat.
• Modifying motor power to go faster is prohibited.
• The vehicle must have a headlight, reflectors, working brakes and a horn or bell.
• Riders must give way to pedestrians and keep a safe distance.

Before you rent: 8 mistakes visitors often make

1. Treating an e-bike like an electric motorbike. An electric motorbike with a number plate and registration (STNK) is legally an ordinary motorcycle: you need a valid licence (an IDP with the motorcycle category plus your home licence) and you may use public roads. An e-bike without plates has no such status. Motorbike requirements are in Bali motorbike rental and riding rules 2026, and licensed electric motorbike options in our guide to renting electric motorbikes and EVs in Bali.

2. Riding without a helmet. Many beach e-bike rentals do not hand out helmets. PM 45/2020 still requires one. Ask for a helmet or bring your own.

3. Carrying a friend or a child. Kick scooters and e-scooters are single-rider. A passenger is only allowed on an e-bike with a passenger seat. For children on motorbikes, see can you ride with a child on a motorbike in Bali.

4. Letting children under 12 ride on their own. The age-12 limit applies on estate roads too. A resort's private grounds count as an "off-road area", but the resort's own rules are usually stricter; ask at reception.

5. Assuming any pavement is fine. Article 5 only allows pavements where there is no dedicated lane and the pavement has adequate capacity, with pedestrian safety first. Pavements in Kuta, Seminyak and Ubud are mostly narrow, broken and used by vendors, so "adequate" rarely applies.

6. Not knowing local bans. Denpasar city government banned e-bikes from the Sanur Beach pedestrian path from 1 April 2023 (detikBali, March-April 2023). Riders were redirected to Jalan Danau Tamblingan, which the Denpasar tourism office said drew little interest. We found no announcement lifting the ban as of October 2026, so watch for signs on site.

7. Riding at night without lights. Bali's roads outside town centres are dark, and rental e-bikes often have only a small lamp. A headlight and reflectors are vehicle requirements, not accessories.

8. Using a speed-unlocked model. Some e-bikes can go far above 25 km/h once modified. That is prohibited, and at motorbike speeds you are sharing the road with large vehicles with no protection.

What about hoverboards and children's e-scooters?

Both fall under PM 45/2020, so the age-12 limit, the helmet rule and the ban on main roads apply equally. If you bring a hoverboard or e-scooter from home, remember its lithium battery is also subject to aviation rules; many airlines refuse hoverboards outright, so check with your airline before you fly.

What is the penalty?

Legal analysis cited in national media notes that PM 45/2020 itself contains no sanctions. That does not mean there is no risk. If you crash on a road your vehicle is not allowed on, your position with the police, the other vehicle's owner and your insurer is weak. Check your travel insurance policy too: many policies limit claims involving motorised vehicles, and an e-bike can fall into that category.

Where does it still make sense?

• Quiet residential streets and housing estates.
• Resort grounds or private areas, following the operator's rules.
• Roads during a car-free day, when one is being held.
• Official bike lanes, of which Bali still has few.

A final word: for trips longer than a few kilometres or routes that cross major roads, an e-bike is not a safe choice. Rent a motorbike with a valid licence, or use a taxi or ride-hailing app.