Filenews 5 November 2021 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
The bill regulating the movement of electric scooters is being submitted to the Council of Ministers next week, with the aim of being sent to Parliament as soon as possible. The bill was due to be tabled at yesterday's session, but Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos did not attend as he had met with his Greek counterpart, who tested positive for the coronavirus.
As Mr. Karousos stated to "F", the bill is the result of consultations with municipalities, companies that rent such devices, the Police and citizens. There are also basic parameters and options in relation to the release of Personal Mobility Devices (scooters).
>> Area of movement: bicycle path, bicycle lane or in an area that is an extension of a bicycle path (area of common use by cyclists and pedestrians). In a square or pedestrian street, only after a decision of the relevant municipality or community.
>> Age of users: sixteen years and older.
>> Personal protective equipment of a user: mandatory use of a helmet.
>> Insurance coverage: mandatory insurance against a third party as in all vehicles (whether they are rented or privately owned).
>> Minimum device equipment: brake system, front and rear lamps, bell, tyres.
>> Maximum device speed: Construction develops a maximum speed of 15 km per hour. Consumers should be careful in their choices if they want to use them in a public place with the passage of the Law.
According to the Minister of Transport, the bill regulates the purchase or rental of electric scooters since importers, manufacturers and sellers are obliged to inspect them by engineers, in relation to minimal equipment that they must have and their maximum speed.
The bill also provides that device rental companies receive a license to rent scooters from a municipality or community through a specific framework and obligations.
At the same time, the bill applies traffic rules for Personal Mobility Devices as is the case with other means of traffic, including pedestrians against scooters. With the adoption of this legislation, Cyprus will be one of the few countries in the European Union that will have regulated the matter.
It is noted that there was a lot of talk about the speed at which electric scooters would move. There were opinions such as these "run" up to 25km an hour, but wiser thoughts prevailed so that their traffic would be closer to what applies to bicycles. Also, their driving on the roads is prohibited, as is bicycles, while the fact that insurance coverage will be needed for someone to drive it, is considered that pedestrians and other road users are guaranteed from any damage caused by scooters.
It is noted that in Cyprus only one death from an electric scooter was recorded, when a woman in Limassol was hit by a vehicle and eventually lost her life from the violent fall.
