Published: Less than 30 min ago
As of September 1, it is forbidden to park or drive e-scooters on the country’s footpaths. The tightening means that the same rules now apply to electric scooters as to traditional bicycles.
Ever since they entered Sweden’s big cities in 2018, electric scooters have become an increasingly tangible part of the cityscape – while at the same time giving rise to some heated debate. Over the years, the discussion has touched on everything from accident risks, helmet requirements, drunk driving and, not least, parking – and as of September 1, the rules for e-scooter drivers are also being tightened considerably.
“Finished”
In June, the government decided to introduce a parking ban on electric scooters on footpaths and cycle paths. The vehicles must instead be parked at specified stands that the municipalities are responsible for setting up, or alternatively another stand-up location.
In July, the decision was supplemented with another ban on driving electric scooters on footpaths and sidewalks – and for those who break the ban, the penalty can be a fine of up to SEK 500.
According to infrastructure minister Tomas Eneroth, who announced the decision during the government’s so-called summer coffee on July 28, the rules are being introduced in an attempt to deal with the mess that electric scooters have created in metropolitan traffic in recent years.
With the bans being introduced, the country’s e-scooters will be subject to the same rules as traditional bicycles from September 1.
Criticism from the industry
The announcement has so far been met with mixed reactions from the electric scooter industry, where, among others, the company Voi has been critical of the government’s decision to stop driving on footpaths and pavements.
According to the company’s own statistics, only around five percent of the accidents involving e-scooters occur on footpaths, while 95 percent instead occur in traffic lanes.
It is above all the big cities, with Stockholm at the forefront, that in recent years have had problems with a “powerful and aggressive establishment” of electric scooters. In total, there are approximately 12,000 e-scooters for rent in the city, according to the City of Stockholm.
Facts
New rules for electric scooters
As of September 1, there is a parking ban for e-scooters on footpaths and cycle paths, other than on a stand or device for parking bicycles.
The main rule is that the vehicles must be moved to a special staging area, but shorter movements of the bicycles can also be applied.
It is the electric scooter companies that must pay the cost of the move. The municipalities must be able to announce local exceptions to the ban.
A ban on driving electric scooters on footpaths and pavements is also introduced.
The penalty for those who violate the driving ban can be a fine of SEK 500.
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