Boon or Blight? E-Scooters Around the World

RSS/AFP
Published 2023 Aug 28 Monday

Paris: E-scooters have sparked both praise and criticism in cities around the world, leading to varied approaches and regulations in different urban centers:

Paris: The city that embraced e-scooters in 2018 is now banning them from its streets starting September 1. After issues with accidents and disorderly parking, the number of operators was reduced to three and strict regulations were imposed, including a speed limit and designated parking spots.

Barcelona and Montreal: Both cities have implemented outright bans on e-scooters. Barcelona prohibited rental e-scooters on public roads in 2018, while Montreal banned all electric scooters from public roads and cycle paths due to issues with discarded vehicles. Montreal recently allowed Bird Canada to deploy e-scooters in a park as part of a controlled experiment.

Copenhagen: The city banned rental e-scooters in 2020 but brought them back in 2021 with stringent rules, including helmet requirements and restrictions on parking in the city center.

London: London has taken a cautious approach, allowing only rental e-scooters with specific safety features. Privately owned e-scooters are illegal, and riders must be 18 or over with a driving license. Speed limits and safety measures are in place.

Rome: After incidents and concerns about safety, Rome is implementing new rules to manage its e-scooter rental market. These rules include speed limits in pedestrian areas and restrictions on parking.

Singapore: The city has taken a strict stance with tough penalties for reckless scooter riders, including potential jail time and hefty fines.

The widespread use of e-scooters has prompted cities to find a balance between their benefits as a convenient mode of transport and the challenges they pose in terms of safety, congestion, and urban aesthetics.



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