Electric scooter accidents are rising across Europe, leading to bans and stricter regulations in cities like Paris and Vienna.
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In Romania, nearly 400 serious accidents involving electric scooters have occurred in the last three years, leading some local authorities to ban them despite their continued popularity, especially in Bucharest. The article compares this situation with regulations across other European cities. In Romania, safety issues include riders not wearing helmets and multiple people on one scooter; maximum speed is 25 km/h, but violations occur, resulting in fines for infractions like riding on sidewalks. Several Romanian cities have banned rental scooter companies due to risks to pedestrians and traffic flow.
Other European cities show varied responses. Paris implemented the strictest measures by banning shared e-scooters as of September 1, 2023, following safety concerns after numerous accidents. Athens is considering bans in areas with speeds over 50 km/h and planning dedicated parking zones due to chaos from unregulated use. Vienna introduced stricter rules in mid-2023, requiring scooters to be parked in designated areas or marked car parks, leading to over 50,000 fines.
Spain has a national legal framework established in 2021, with local municipalities adding specific rules; for instance, Malaga limits speed based on whether the scooter is on a bike lane or sidewalk. E-scooters are banned from public transport in Spain since 2023. Ireland enacted legislation in May 2024, limiting usage to those over 16, restricting speeds to 20 km/h, and banning them from sidewalks; Lime has ceased operations there due to vehicle weight restrictions, and they were banned from public transport in October 2024 due to battery fire risks.
Lithuania mandates use only on bike lanes or mixed paths with a maximum speed of 20 km/h, but research shows over half of users ignore traffic rules, including not dismounting at pedestrian crossings. Prague faces issues with dangerous riding, particularly by tourists, and enforces regulations like the one-person limit and 25 km/h speed cap.
