In an article published by The Economic Times, European nations are keen to implement strict rules to legalize the use of electric scooters.
Germany
Berlin legalized electric scooters two months ago and quickly realized it needs tougher rules.
Last week, city officials in the German capital announced plans for on-street parking zones for the battery-powered vehicles, which are often left haphazardly on sidewalks. Berlin police will also step up patrols to prevent illegal behavior such as doubling.
German police say seven people have been seriously injured and 27 suffered minor injuries in scooter accidents since mid-June, saying most were due to riders behaving carelessly.
While pro-scooter folks say they’re a way to cut down on more polluting forms of transport, the anti-scooter faction says they’re mainly used by people who would otherwise walk or take public transport anyway.
Spain
Electric scooters dot the urban landscapes of major Spanish cities and the official traffic regulator has prepared new guidelines — but their approval hinges on Spanish politicians forming a new national government after a hung parliament emerged from April’s national election.
In the meantime, cities have adopted a hodge-podge of restrictions.
Helmets are only mandatory in Madrid for those under 16. Yet they are compulsory for everyone in Barcelona, where a 92-year-old died after she was run over by an electric scooter last year. The rider was investigated for involuntary homicide but was ultimately only fined because of the lack of regulations.
In Madrid, the city requires scooter-users to operate only inroads with no more than one lane per way, while imposing a maximum speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour (18.6 mph).
Seville last week joined the scooter ride-sharing frenzy, but the southern city’s rental operator is testing a way to self-restrict rides to and from designated private parking spots.
Belgium
Brussels — the capital of Belgium and the European Union — has been inundated with e-scooters over the last year.
But each of the 19 municipalities that make up Brussels has its own rules on the vehicles. Some impose fines or speed limits, while others impose parking restrictions.
The Brussels region is now gathering information from all these municipalities to streamline the rules. A city spokeswoman said there has been one deadly accident so far involving e-scooters and a major hospital says it’s treating up to two injuries a day related to scooter incidents.
Helmets are not required by law, but the debate is swirling around obliging scooter and mono-wheel riders to wear them.
France
France’s government met Monday with the victims of scooter accidents as it prepares new rules. Paris alone has more free-floating scooter companies than the entire United States, according to a June study, and at least 20,000 whizzing through its historic streets.
Most are app-based, rented scooters that you pick up and drop off wherever you want, and that’s especially appealing to tourists and teens. But victims’ groups say these users don’t know French road rules and can’t always be held liable for accidents. One scooter driver has been killed in Paris and scores injured this year.
Paris imposes 135-euro ($150) fines for riding on the sidewalk on scooters. The city’s mayor wants to limit scooter speeds to 20 kilometers per hour (12 mph) in most areas, and 8 kilometers per hour (5 mph) in areas with heavy foot traffic. She plans to limit the number of operators to three and cap the number of scooters.
Stricter rules to be imposed
New rules expected in September will expand those limits to other French cities and include potential speeding fines up to 1,500 euros ($1,680).
Critics say current proposals don’t go far enough. Some want age limits for riders, and to require them to take driving tests and have insurance, so that governments don’t have to pay for medical care or other damage they cause.
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Source: TheEconomicTimes
