Insurance will be mandatory, and while no license plates are required on the actual vehicle, it appears that electric scooters and light electric mopeds will be included in the new category for bike paths and France roads. In this article, we have compiled the most important laws and guidelines regarding electric scooters in Europe as well as for each country. If you don`t see your country in the list below, it`s best to contact local law enforcement or transportation authorities. Paris revises ban on renting electric scooters after pedestrian death Many companies, including Bird, dott, Flash, Jump by Uber, Lime-S, voi and more, offer shared electric scooters via smartphone apps. We mostly saw Lime-S and Bird scooters on the streets of Paris, but also some of the others. However, not everyone can afford or need an electric car and needs affordable, cheap and easy-to-drive forms of individual electric transport. There are many different types on the French market today, from the modest electric bike to the most extreme like the electric unicycle. One of the most popular options in France is the electric scooter. They are easy to drive, you can pick them up for a few hundred euros, and they are good enough for the old environment. With that said, let`s take a look at the electric scooter and everything you need to know about electric scooters in France. Are they the future of transport throughout the France? Machines that can reach such speeds were sometimes sold around 2016, when there was a legal vacuum around these new vehicles. Denmark legalized scooters in early 2019. The maximum speed is 20 km and the minimum age to drive is 15 years.
Drivers usually ride their electric scooters on bike paths. Front and rear lights are required as part of the guidelines. Top speed allowed is 25 km/h (approx. 15.5 mph). The fine for exceeding this limit is 1500 €! Many shared scooters have top speeds of 32 km/h (20 mph), so don`t drive them at high speeds. Drivers may be entitled to a license here if they make sure they have front lights, two brakes and side reflectors, and a bell installed to signal your approach to other drivers and pedestrians. The speed limit for electric scooters is 20 km/h on bike paths or trails for cyclists aged 14 and over. Children aged 12 and over are allowed to walk cycle paths, alleys and walking trails at a maximum speed of 12 km/h.
The United Kingdom only allows the use of electric scooters on private land under the regulations in force. In 2020, limited trials were conducted in various cities across the UK. During the tests, scooters were only allowed to reach a maximum speed of 25 km / h, and some cities required a permit before use. Operators will be charged if they do not pick up broken scooters, and municipal services will have to do so. However, this is exactly the same as the gray area between bikes and pedelecs that have created lightweight electric scooters, so at least it is recognized that new rules are needed. For example, it is not entirely clear whether pedals are needed or not. The Gendarmerie Des Landes has published on Facebook a diagram that recalls the rules of the road and the cost of penalties for electric scooters („scooters“ in French). The France does not allow electric scooters to be driven on the sidewalk, but bike paths and roads are still given the green light. In 2019, the France added new measures and guidelines, including a minimum age for riding (children from eight years old) as well as a helmet law for people under 12 years old. This category of vehicles (EDPM), which includes scooters and items such as „hoverboards“, is becoming increasingly popular in France.
Spain requires scooters to be insured and drivers cannot go faster than 25 km/h. Regulations vary by city, but Barcelona allows scooters on bike paths and streets that accommodate pedestrians and drivers. Scooters are prohibited on the city`s sidewalks and sidewalks, and cyclists must wear reflective equipment. In France, scooters are subject to liability insurance for damage or damage caused. Check with your insurer to be insured! Be careful, private operators in France who offer free-floating scooters do not always guarantee users. Norway is still in the early stages of regulating e-scooters, and riders are constrained by the same rules as bicycles. But since 2020, stricter regulations seem to be in the works. Currently, scooters are allowed on bike paths, roads and sidewalks. Helmets are recommended but not mandatory.
On June 6, 2019, the Mayor of Paris announced that speed limits will be imposed: 20 km/h in most areas and 8 km/h in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic. Parking is only allowed in designated rooms. The number of operators will also be reduced to three and the number of scooters available will be reduced. Finland considers electric scooters and skateboards to be equivalent to bicycles before the law – therefore, there is a maximum size limit of 80 cm (31 inches) wide, a total speed of 25 km/h and a maximum load of 1000 W for all scooters. Cyclists must also wear a helmet and avoid the sidewalk. Floating electric scooters have become a very popular means of transport in the French capital and 15 suppliers currently offer their services. However, the town hall has also received many complaints of harassment (dishonest parking, dangerous driving with even very serious accidents). Micromobility could be the future of transportation, thanks to the explosive rise of scooter sharing services, personal scooters and other green models that cities around the world are adopting. Europe is no exception, as several major cities now offer sustainable transport services to commuters. In Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, all drivers must have insurance for their scooters. Few other countries need insurance, although it may be a good idea to invest in a personal security plan. Neither driving license nor registration usually seems to be a necessity – most drivers can use a scooter before the legal driving age in Europe.
Austria bans the use of electric scooters everywhere except on bike paths. They also ordered a number of additional restrictions, including a top speed of 25 km/h and a bicycle driver`s license for all cyclists. Scooters must also have brake reflectors, reflectors, red taillights and white front lights, as well as a maximum power of 600 W. Cyclists under the age of 12 must be with a person 16 years of age or older and follow the same rules and guidelines as cyclists. Operators of „light cyclomobiles“ must therefore ensure that they are also on a compliant machine – and although there is a new category for electric machines, it still needs to be filled. One of the few scooters on the list is the Vassla Electric Moped. You should also tell your insurance company that you have this type of vehicle, as scooters fall into the official category of motorized personal mobility devices. The speed limit for electric scooters is 20 km/h on the road, a restriction that some e-scooter operators have automatically imposed. In Lyon, for example, the speed of some scooters depends on GPS and limits drivers in pedestrian areas to 8 km/h. Paris intends to limit the number of electric scooters operated in the city in order to allow stricter control of noise pollution, safety and vehicles on the road. The immense popularity of scooters has certainly been established based on their increasing use and availability in the United States and Europe in recent years.
More and more companies are launching scooters as a „last mile“ transportation option, with ride-sharing programs introduced in major cities around the world. Personal scooters have also seen an increase, thanks in part to their convenience and profitability. There are no national regulations yet in Portugal – the rules for driving scooters depend on local governments and cities. It seems that cyclists collectively tend to use bike paths and helmets here and follow the rules of the road. If you are not sure if you want to buy an electric scooter for your French adventure. Then the best thing to do is to hire one. There are currently about 15,000 electric scooters available in Paris alone, which are operated by three companies.