Electric scooters and the law: the new rules of use
There are many solutions that have been put in place on several occasions by the various governments, however, between gray areas, multiple possible interpretations and regulatory holes, a clear situation had never been reached .
However, the Milleproroghe decree was recently passed which, although not entirely exhaustive, finally regulates the use of these means in a fairly clear way, making it possible to draw unambiguous conclusions .
What is an electric scooter?
Let's start by saying what an electric scooter is , to clarify.
An electric scooter is a two-wheeled vehicle in which the propulsion can be given by the push of the foot on the ground (as for push scooters) but which also has an electric motor that can either help or replace the muscular thrust .
It consists of two wheels, a platform on which the feet rest (and in which the battery is generally contained) and a handlebar that often has the controls to manage propulsion and braking. A peculiar feature of the scooter is the standing driving position .
Maybe you already own one and don't know if / how / where you can use it, maybe instead you are thinking of buying one and want to choose a model that doesn't give you problems?
Whatever your situation, the best thing is to start with the most frequently asked questions on the topic and then analyze the situation starting from the doubts ...
What is there to know about electric scooters?
One premise: until a few months ago, the use of scooters was only allowed in the areas where the Toninelli experimentation for electric micro-mobility devices was active (approved with the 2019 Finance Act).
In the last Budget Law, electric scooters were then equated with pedal assisted bicycles throughout the country (therefore even where experimentation was not active), arousing much controversy.
The latest decree instead deals with better regulating the specifications of the scooters to avoid misunderstandings. In short, one step at a time the matter is becoming clearer.
But let's start with the questions ...
How do I know if an electric scooter meets the legal requirements?
This question is somewhat the crux of the matter. The main change introduced by the Milleproroghe concerns precisely the definition of the characteristics that electric scooters must have.
In a similar way to what is done with pedal assisted bikes, legality is mainly played on two parameters: the maximum power of the engine and the maximum speed that can be reached .
As regards the maximum power of the motor, the law indicates it in 500 Watts (0.5 kW) . We are therefore faced with double power compared to that allowed on electric bikes. It's easy to guess that on the scooter the motor has to do all the work , so you need more power than on pedelecs where our legs are constantly contributing.
Attention to the fact that the decree requires that the scooters are “mainly electric” propulsion , therefore the means that also use other propulsion methods are not excluded a priori, as long as the main one is electric.
The maximum speed that can be reached is instead indicated in 25 km / h , just like for eBikes. Often you will find the indication of the limit at 20 km / h, but it is wrong. The limit was initially set at 20 km / h but not even three weeks later a new decree corrected the figure to 25 km / h . So if your question is "20km / h or 25km / h?" know that the current limit is 25 km / h.
Other aspects to know are that to be considered electric scooters they must not be equipped with a seat (they must be guided while standing) and must instead be equipped with an acoustic signal device (a normal bell is fine).
An interesting aspect is that in the decree there are no limitations regarding the size of the wheels , so from that point of view there is maximum freedom.
Scooters that meet these specifications can ride. All the others do not, without exception.
Can i use the electric scooter on public roads?
The general answer is yes , it can be used on public roads as long as you comply with the requirements that the law imposes on the scooter (see question 1). If you don't respect them, you can only use it on land, roads and private properties.
When it comes to use on public roads there are some restrictions that need to be talked about. They are very simple and intuitive, nothing complicated.
The scooters can be used on all cycle paths, pedestrian areas and sidewalks. In pedestrian areas and on pavements, however, the speed limit of 6 km / h must be respected .
On the roads, however, there is a limitation: the scooters can be used on all urban roads with speed limits up to 50 km / h. So no suburban roads, ring roads, highways and the like, unless there is also a cycle path and then you can stay on that.
Then:
- Sidewalks and pedestrian areas: yes but at 6 km / h
- Bike paths: yes, up to 25 km / h
- Urban roads with a speed limit below 50 km / h: yes, up to 25 km / h
- Extra-urban roads: no, unless there is also a cycle path and then you have to travel right on the cycle path (for which you fall back to the rules of the previous points)
Attention also to the fact that the law requires scooters to proceed in single file . If traffic or conditions allow it, you can stay side by side but never more than two: the typical case used as an example for bicycles is that of an adult and a child walking together, in which case the adult must stand beside the child on the side of the road.
Can I use the Electric scooter on pavements and pedestrian areas? Or do I have to lead it by hand?
As explained in question 2, the answer is yes. Just remember that in areas reserved for pedestrians (therefore pavements and pedestrian areas) pedestrians must keep a speed of 6 km / h .
This speed corresponds to that of a brisk walk, so it does not put other pedestrians at risk, no more than a passer-by who is in a bit of a hurry. It is understood that the Cheap Electric Scooter UK can also be operated by hand and in any case many are equipped with functions that keep them in motion at low speed so that you don't even have to struggle to push them.
Can i give an electric scooter to my child? Do you need a driving license or a driving license?
Electric scooters can only be driven from the age of 14 . So you can gift it to your child as a means of urban transport if he is at least 14 years old. If he has less, he will not be able to use it on public land.
The only requirement for "driving" is age. The law, and we would add “unfortunately”, does not provide for the need to have a driving license or license .
Should I use the helmet on the electric scooter?
The answer here is: it depends.
There are two factors to consider: age and safety .
By law, you are obliged to use an approved helmet (such as a bicycle helmet , to understand) if you are between 14 and 18 years old . Over the age of 18, the law no longer requires you to carry it when traveling on an electric scooter.
However, it must be said that our advice is the same as we give to those who ride a bicycle: always wear a helmet!
Safety is more important than unkempt hair or some minor discomfort that a helmet can cause, so you should never get on the saddle (or on the platform) without a nice helmet.
Do you need insurance, road tax and license plate for the electric scooter?
No. None of this is needed , just like with pedelecs. The law says it explicitly and therefore there is no room for interpretation either by citizens or by law enforcement.
However, we still recommend that you consider personal insurance coverage against injuries and accidents to be safe and peaceful. The same speech made for the helmet also applies to insurance: the fact that it is not mandatory by law does not mean that it is not wise to have it.
What penalties and fines are foreseen regarding the use of the electric scooter?
Sore point. The legislator has indeed granted a lot of freedom to the circulation and recognition of electric scooters, but on the other hand it has inserted harsh penalties for those who make a mistake and for the usual "crafty ones" who modify control units or put plates that indicate wrong or similar powers.
Anyone who is caught using a scooter that does not meet the legal requirements may be fined from 100 to 400 euros. If the vehicle on which you are traveling has a power equal to or greater than 2 kW, the confiscation of the vehicle is also envisaged .
In case of circulation during the periods of the day when the highway code provides for the use of lights (from half an hour after sunset up to half an hour before sunrise and where the weather conditions require it), even the scooter it must be equipped with front light (white or yellow, continuous) and rear light (fixed red light and reflectors).
You will also need to use braces or a reflective jacket . There is also a penalty of between 100 and 400 Euros for offenders.
Regarding the penalties for the use of vehicles not expressly regulated, see the next question.
For segways, hoverboards, single wheels and all other means, what does the law say?
The Milleproroghe unfortunately does not regulate these vehicles with an approach similar to that used for scooters. In short, no wide opening.
Segways, hoverboards and single wheels can continue to be used only under certain conditions. The first is that they are mainly electrically powered, the second is that they are in one of the areas identified by the experimentation on electric micromobility wanted by the Minister of Transport Toninelli. Trial that has just been extended for another year, so it will last until 2022.
For the specific regulation, each discussion is postponed to a later date but at least for these means it has been clarified that the rules of experimentation apply.
This last aspect is very important because in the Milleproroghe there is also the wording: "Anyone driving an atypical vehicle for which the technical and functional characteristics indicated in paragraph 2 have not yet been defined is subject to the administrative sanction of the payment of a sum from € 200 to € 800. "
This means that all the means for which the legislator has not explicitly expressed himself are not allowed and the penalties for those who fail are enormous.
Can I transport objects, people or animals on a scooter?
Here too the decree is clear: it is explicitly forbidden to carry other people, objects or animals . As well as towing vehicles, driving animals or being towed by another vehicle. The penalty for offenders ranges from 50 to 200 euros.
No outings for two, not even as adults. No commercial uses of scooters (think of the delivery services that already use e-bikes in urban centers or people transport) and not even the possibility of taking the dog for a walk with the scooter.
Electric scooters: conclusions
Electric scooters are undoubtedly a topic on which there is a lot to be said in terms of opinions and evaluations, but we will limit ourselves to analyzing three aspects.
First of all, it is indisputably positive that the use of electric scooters has been liberalized throughout the national territory.
The law is still incomplete and does not take into account some important aspects, not to mention that it will probably take a long time to see further changes, but it is a start.
Secondly, it is positive that the procedure for launching new rental and sharing services for electric scooters has been simplified , for which only the authorization of the municipality of activity is now necessary. This will encourage investments and the spread of this green transport method, to the benefit of citizens.
We will wait for the next report from the Focus2R observatory to understand if these measures have given a real boost to the sector. In the meantime, if you are interested in the most recent data from the observatory on the state of two-wheeled transport in our country, we refer you to this article on Focus2R in 2020 .
The less positive aspect was the approach to unregulated media . To say that anything not explicitly named by law is illegal is a very restrictive approach to the matter. We consider that green mobility is a rapidly expanding sector , which attracts investments, creates jobs and moves important figures for both citizens and businesses.
Restrictive laws limit entrepreneurial initiative: any new means that can be invented, any variant that deviates more than a minimum from what is indicated by the law thus automatically becomes illegal.
It would have been enough to give general indications for the acceptable means: maximum engine power, maximum reachable speed, mandatory safety devices, etc.
Instead, our companies find themselves chasing those of countries with more open legislation (which does not mean more permissive at 360 °) which are more free to trace the paths and find the solutions that we will then have to regulate in the future.
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