Comments Off on Speed limit reduction for escooters in Ljubljana
In an agreement between Ljubljana city council and micromobility operator Bolt, escooters in the city’s pedestrian zone will be automatically limited to a speed of 5 km/h.
With a pedestrian zone covering more than ten hectares, Ljubljana will take advantage of the smart capability of escooters whereby the speed limit of a unit can be automatically changed upon entering the zone. The limit of 5 km/h is in line with the average pedestrian walking speed, and it is thought that this may be the lowest such speed limit for escooters, with Rome’s 6 km/h close behind.
The city welcomes green and modern solutions to congested urban living, but the mayor of Ljubljana Zoran Janković emphasised the importance of such solutions operating in harmony with all residents, saying, “No one has the right to put pedestrians in danger in order to make more money”.
Service operator Bolt has expressed their satisfaction with the agreement, and it is indicated that they will enact one year period of free parking zones, to enable the safe and easy placement of scooters after use.
Comments Off on Sweden bans e-scooters from pavements
The Swedish government has decided on a driving ban on footpaths for electric scooters. The ban applies as of today, September 1. Also today a parking ban for electric scooters on foothpaths and cycle paths comes into force.
With the change, the same rules that apply to traditional bicycles and electric bicycles now also apply to electric scooters and other self-balancing vehicles without pedals. Riders who don’t comply with the ban may be fined.
“Now we get our streets in order as well. Speeding electric scooters on footpaths has been a big problem in many cities. Now that’s over. Together with the parking ban, this proposal will improve accessibility and safety for everyone who walks on our footpaths,” says Swedish infrastructure minister Tomas Eneroth.
As of July 1, 2022, new federal laws for the use of e-scooters in Belgium came into place. In the Brussels Capital Region, even stricter measures have been implemented to protect pedestrians. The changes are part of an effort to address concerns over road safety and hindrance linked to the increasing use of e-scooters.
To address the concerns over e-scooter safety new regulation was required. Georges Gilkinet, Federal Minister of Mobility, explained: “The world has changed and so has our mobility. The electric scooter is now part of our daily life. But with the increase in the number of accidents, sometimes with serious consequences, it was necessary to react. New rules will come into effect from 1 July to better protect scooter users and other road users. Let’s strive together for more safety and fewer accidents on our roads. All For Zero”.
The new rules:
The new rules mean that users of e-scooters, or any other micromobility transport method, will be assimilated to cyclists. In effect, riding on sidewalks or in pedestrianized areas is no longer permitted. In situations where permitted, speed must be reduced to 5km/h and pedestrians have right of way.
Additionally, a minimum age requirement of 16 years has been introduced, and riding e-scooters with two or more passengers is prohibited. Alongside these changes, new guidance for e-scooter parking has been introduced, including signage for designated parking destinations, non-parking zones, and laws against obstruction of the sidewalk.
Additional rules in Brussels:
The new rules have also been welcomed in the Brussels-Capital Region. At the same time, the Region has introduced additional rules on the use of e-scooters. Elke Van den Brandt, Brussels Minister of Mobility, added: “Electric scooters are a convenient way to get around, as long as they do not hinder pedestrians and people with reduced mobility. That is too often the case now. Thousands of these shared scooters appeared on our streets and it is high time for stricter regulation. In addition to the federal rules, the Brussels-Capital Region decided to automatically limit the speed of scooters in pedestrian zones and to limit the number of scooters per operator.”
Specifically, e-scooters in pedestrianized zones are now limited to 8km/h, while across the entirety of the region, the top speed is limited to 20km/h. For comparison, the general top speed limitation of e-scooters in Europe is 25km/h.
Bart Dhondt, Mobility Councillor of the City of Brussels, stated: “Parents, their children, and people with mobility problems no longer felt comfortable in the pedestrian zone. By ensuring that the shared-use e-scooters can only travel at a walking pace, the pedestrian zone will once again become a space for everyone.”
Micromobility operator and LEVA-EU member Dott has reported a rapid rise in the use of its fleet of e-scooters and e-bikes across Europe, as the peak summer season gets underway.
The total number of rides increased by 73% in Q2 compared to Q1, and year-on-year was up by 192%.
Dott attributes this growth to a sharp rise in new riders, which have increased by 116% compared to Q1.
Henri Moissinac, co-founder and CEO of Dott, stated: “The summer season provides a great opportunity for more people to try our shared e-scooter and e-bike services for the first time. Our riders are quick to realise that our vehicles can transform their travel experience, using our service for efficient, fun and reliable travel on a more regular basis.”
Dott has over 50,000 vehicles in place across major European cities, with its e-bikes, which were launched at the end of 2021, gaining popularity alongside the existing e-scooters.
Rider experience has been captured, with 58% of new riders saying a key reason for trying Dott is to save time, 53% that they are fun to ride, and 52% saying that the vehicles are easy to use and readily available.
Dott puts the environment and social impact to the fore, saying that it is working to reuse, upcycle or recycle 100% of used vehicles and parts, and aims for vehicles to have a five-year-plus lifespan. In addition, Dott is targeting 100% electric logistics fleet and renewable energies in all the cities it operates in, and works with local organisations and communities to make access to its services as wide as possible.
Comments Off on DLR-Study: can shared E-scooters reduce CO2 emissions by substituting car trips in Germany?
Highlights
E-scooters’ car-trip substitution potential for e-scooters estimated on basis of based on German mobility data.
13 % of daily car trips or 2 % of vehicle-kilometers traveled suitable for replacement.
Calculation of daily potential greenhouse gas reduction through by switching to e-scooters.
Maximum savings of 1.2% of transportation GHG achievable if replacing gasoline cars.
Savings highly dependent on use case; potentially negative for BEV-replacement potentially negative.
Abstract
This DLR-paper explores which trips currently made in Germany by personal motorized transportation could be replaced by e-scooters and what effect this would have on greenhouse gas emissions. This potential for substitution is estimated on the basis of data from the national household travel survey in Germany. The DLR-analysis shows that 13% of the daily car trips, corresponding to 2% of the car kilometers in Germany, are suitable for replacement. Based on these results, the researchers show that saving potentials of greenhouse gas emissions are heavily dependent on the general conditions of the specific use case (e.g. e-scooter lifetime) and the type of vehicle replaced. At best, a saving potential of about 5.8 kt of CO2eq per day could be achieved when trips with conventional cars are replaced by e-scooter driving. However, if battery electric cars are replaced, an increase in emissions may even occur under certain conditions.
The UK Government’s plans for updated e-scooter legislation won’t automatically apply in Northern Ireland, according to a report.
Earlier this month, the Government announced plans for a new low-speed, low-emission vehicle category, allowing the use of private-use e-scooters on public roads.
The Government mentioned that the update would form part of the upcoming Parliamentary session on the Transport Bill, but a report from news outlet Belfast Live suggests that the update to the law in Great Britain would not automatically be adopted in Northern Ireland.
A spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure told Belfast Live that the NI Minister for Infrastructure would be responsible for any decision on the use of e-scooters, remarking, “It is currently illegal to use electric scooters on public roads and public spaces in the North. Any decision on the potential use of e-scooters here is a matter for the Minister for Infrastructure.”
“The proposed change in regulations in England does not apply to Northern Ireland, however, DfI officials are currently monitoring developments there and, following review, will provide advice to the Minister on the way forward.”
Following the Government announcement on e-scooter legislation, Belfast Live also reported that police in Northern Ireland planned to step up their response to the illegal use of e-scooters, currently banned from the roads unless the rider has a license, tax, and insurance.
The popularity of e-scooters continues to grow, with shared schemes being hailed as a success across the country.
The Government plans to use safety data collected from the shared transport schemes to inform its legislation update, including details like maximum speed, battery power, and regulations on lights.
European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) member, PACTS, has set out recommendations for private e-scooter use in the UK if the vehicles are to become legal. This includes mandatory helmet use and a minimum rider age of 16. Recommendations were based on a nine-month research project.
At present, e-scooter use in the UK is limited to city-specific rental schemes. Private usage is restricted to private land, despite this over a million such vehicles have entered the UK in recent years and it is not uncommon to see them in a public setting. Many users are either ignorant of or ignore the ban on public use and face fines or confiscation.
Following its research, PACTS has published a comprehensive report looking at many aspects of e-scooter design and use which took into account research and experience from across the rest of Europe, where e-scooters are legal in most countries. This is seen by PACTS as the ideal legal scenario in which to launch private e-scooter ownership in the UK. Recommendations are as follows:
Maximum possible top speed of between 10mph-12.5mph (16-20km/h)
Maximum continuous rated motor power 250 W
Anti-tampering mechanisms should be included in the construction. Tampering should be prohibited by law
A maximum unladen weight of 20kg
A minimum front wheel size of 12 inches (30.5cm) and minimum rear wheel size of 10 inches (25.5cm)
Two independently controlled braking devices
Lighting to be mandatory at all times
An audible warning device to be mandatory
Helmet wearing to be mandatory
Rider age limit of at least 16 years
Riding on the pavement to be prohibited
Carrying of a passenger to be prohibited
Drink driving, dangerous or careless riding, and mobile phone use to be prohibited
In-person rider training recommended
e-scooters should be regulated as motor vehicles
Public liability insurance for riders recommended
The rider should inform the police if there is a collision involving an injury
The e-scooter sharing services have now been used to travel upwards of 1.6 million kilometers
New data shared by Transport for London (TfL) and three e-scooter operators Dott, Lime, and Tier announced that their ongoing shared micromobility trial in London has surpassed the milestone of half a million trips. Total journeys reached 585,000 in early February, covering a total distance of 1.6 million kilometers since the scheme’s launch just 8 months ago.
Following sustained success, the trail has seen a six-fold increase in available vehicles, now standing at 3,585 scooters; the number of partaking boroughs has also doubled. As seen in similar schemes, there is much discussion regarding the safety of e-scooters in regard to riders themselves as well as pedestrians. For this reason, TfL is working to develop a universal e-scooter sound in collaboration with UCL – this will allow easier identification of the vehicles, particularly for those with visual impairments.
Helen Sharp, lead in the TfL e-scooter trail shares:
“We’re working closely with operators, councils, and people across London to build on the success of the trial so far and we hope that even more people will be able to take advantage of the trial over the coming year. The anonymised data we gather is crucial and we’ll be analysing this closely so that we can learn more about the role e-scooters could play in helping people move around London sustainably.”
LEVA-EU member, TAITO, has successfully launched its e-scooter kickstart scheme through Indiegogo. The Belgian start-up aims to take commuters to their destination in a safer, more enjoyable, and efficient manner. The e-scooter incorporates a three-wheel design and a wide bamboo standing platform – these features allow riders to feel more secure as they travel.
At the time of writing, TAITO had reached its primary funding goal of €20,000, with over a month remaining for additional backers and investors to join the campaign.
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