Tag Archive: safety

  1. NIPV publishes 2020-22 report on LEV fires in the Netherlands

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    Source: NIPV

    The Netherlands Institute for Public Safety (NIPV) is the Dutch public research and knowledge institute that links and strengthens ties between the country’s 25 security regions, central government and partner organisations in the crisis management domain through its four service pillars – scientific research, education, support and information.

    The report introduces the fire risks associated with LEVs, mainly around technical faults and charging. Locations of incidents are mainly in the home, and the dangers of such fires are the blaze itself, as well as the toxic smoke. The report aims to review the ways in which such fires start, and better understand these causes.

    The summary records a total 327 LEV fires over a 2 year period, with 65% involving an electric scooter, electric bikes 24%, mobility scooters 7%, and hoverboards 4%. Most of the fires were caused by arson, which was the cause in 37% of the cases where the cause could be determined. In 35% of the cases, the fire was caused by a technical defect.

    The study notes that with increasing sales, we must be prepared that fires are likely to increase, and recommends as follows:

    “This trend calls for extra attention to the (fire) safety of LEVs by the manufacturers of these vehicles. However, building managers will also need to consider fire risks, such as managers of bicycle storage facilities where e-bikes and e-scooters are parked and managers of nursing homes where mobility scooters are stored. Additionally, individuals with hoverboards and e-scooters should consider the fire risks of their vehicles. Finally, sellers can contribute to the fire-safe behavior of consumers by providing targeted information on the safe use (maintenance, charging, storage) of LEVs.”

    Read the report in full, in Dutch, here.

  2. Amsterdam to measure the speed of e-bikes

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    Source: Tweewieler, H. Hoitink

    The municipality of Amsterdam is in consultation with the Dutch government about reducing the speed of e-bikes to 20 km/h to improve road safety. In preparation, they are counting the numbers and speed of e-bikes being ridden.

    The counts and measurements will take place at nine locations in the city, recording the types of bicycles being ridden and their speed. In addition, from Thursday 23 March, cameras have been installed to register near accidents. In order to gain insight into the effect on road safety of the many fast bicycles driving around in the capital, the municipality is starting a trial together with the ambulance service. They will also study the first-aid data of bicycle accidents in collaboration with Amsterdam’s hospitals.

    Speeding, tuned-up e-bikes and other electric vehicles have long been a thorn in the side of the city authorities, causing a lot of accidents and irritation. In addition, the municipality sees that traffic is changing: it is becoming busier on the cycle paths and the speed differences between cyclists are increasing. According to the municipality, this means that new agreements and rules are needed.

    In the eyes of the municipality of Amsterdam, one of the most obvious measures to make traffic safer is to limit the maximum speed. Alderman Melanie van der Horst mentioned a maximum speed of 20 km/h for e-bikes in an article in Het Parool . But reducing the speed on the cycle path is not as easy as it may seem. A maximum speed of 30 km/h will be introduced in many places in the city at the end of this year. According to the law, a lower maximum speed may not be used on a cycle path next to such a carriageway. Amsterdam is now in talks with the government to see if there is a way to make this possible.

  3. Incident data for shared e-scooters published by MMfE

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    Source: Eltis, J. Tewson

    Micro-mobility for Europe (MMfE), the EU association for shared micromobility providers, has released a first-of-its-kind factsheet on incident data.

    The factsheet (accessible here) combines incident data from the association’s six founding members: Bird, Bolt, Dott, Lime, Tier, and Voi. The association shared, “Our goal is to shed light on the debate around shared e-scooters safety by providing data in a transparent manner on the volume, severity of incidents, and their implications on the safety of road users. Ultimately, we hope these insights will help inform conversations and road safety policies in the EU that reduce incident risks for vulnerable road users, such as shared micro-mobility riders, and we are committed to continuing working closely with authorities to do so.“

    Key findings, based on 240 million shared e-scooter trips:

    • When comparing 2021 to 2019, the risk of incidents that require medical attention has reduced by 60%.
    • In 2021, 5.1 injuries per million km travelled required medical assistance.
    • Fatality rates on shared e-scooters are thought to be about half those of private e-scooters.
    • Cyclists and shared e-scooter riders have a similar risk of fatal incidents. Shared e-scooter rider fatality risk is 20 times lower than that of moped riders.
    • The fatality risk for shared e-scooter use is 0.015 per 1 million km ridden.

    The factsheet makes a range of recommendations aimed at improving road safety for vulnerable users, including shared e-scooter riders. It is recommended that there is an investment in safe infrastructure; that e-scooter riders are acknowledged as vulnerable road users; that there is further enforcement of traffic rules by local authorities; and that incident reporting standards are harmonised across Europe.

    View the MMfE factsheet in its entirety, here.

  4. Cycling-related facial injuries do not vary between e-bikes and conventional bicycles

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    Source: Fietsberaad.nl

    As the usage of both e-bikes and conventional bikes increases, so does the number of bicycle-related injuries. New research explores whether e-bikes hold a larger share of facial injuries after an incident.

    Researchers at the Groningen University Medical Centre explored the nature of cycling-related facial injuries (maxillofacial fractures) and whether there are differences between those experienced by e-bike users or regular cyclists. The recently released paper will assist in emergency room injury treatment.

    311 patients were examined across 4 hospitals for the presence and severity of injury between May 2018 and October 2012. Of these patients, 73 were riders of e-bikes, and a range of other factors such as age and alcohol consumption were taken into consideration. In the sample, it appeared that e-bike riders more often suffered fractures to the centre of the face, while jaw fractures and serious dental injuries were more common for conventional cyclists.

    However, when results were corrected in line with additional factors, the conclusion was that patient-specific characteristics, such as age, alcohol use, and comorbidities (the simultaneous presence of two or more medical conditions), may have a greater influence on a rider sustaining maxillofacial fractures than the type of bicycle ridden.

    Based on the results, the researchers see reason to promote the use of bicycle helmets among the elderly and vulnerable cyclists, because it has been proven that their use reduces head injuries and has a protective effect against facial injuries and fractures.

  5. Forest in Aarhus, Denmark, implements ‘RopeLight’ infrastructure

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    Source: Fietsberaad

    RopeLight is a continuous LED light strip that lines the forest’s cycle path, installed as part of the BITS project to improve safety and offer a new cycling experience.

    In the Aarhus location, the installation of regular street lights would have been difficult, leading to a poorly-lit route. The newly installed RopeLight infrastructure guides the cyclist on the path through the forest in the dark hours.

    The LEDs’ color schemes can be altered according to the season or to highlight events and other initiatives. Creators of RopeLight hope that this will add a level of excitement when traveling the route. Additionally, the LEDs can be dimmed to ensure a light level that allows cyclists to benefit from the solution while not being overwhelmed by the light.

    BITS is a four-year project within the European Interreg, in which several countries work together to increase bicycle use and safety through ITS applications.

  6. The local governance of micromobility – Paris case study

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    Source: Eltis, H. Figg

    Europe’s main observatory on urban mobility, Eltis, releases write-up on the role of local authorities in planning and managing rapidly growing new mobility services

    The case study of Paris explores how action was taken after the swift introduction of free-floating e-scooter fleets and increased personal ownership, including the introduction of a Code of Good Conduct while awaiting a legal framework.

    Of key interest is the 18-month period that could be considered a ‘legal vacuum’, in which e-scooters were not subject to the Highway Code, and the National Law on Mobility (LOM) was stalled as it awaited approval by the French government.

    Paris’ governing body acted to create a working group for all e-scooter stakeholders, inviting operators of the devices to sign a Code of Good Conduct before the end of May 2019. From here, any new operator of e-scooters in the region was invited to join the group to discuss the use of rental e-scooters in public spaces.

    The Code of Good Conduct provided guiding principles and paved the way for good public-private collaboration. Operators were encouraged to work on a deployment strategy that respects other users, with the main aspects of the Code covering:

    • Parking and riding rules
    • Operators’ commitments regarding safety and security
    • Respect for other users, particularly people with disabilities
    • Relationship with the city authorities
    • Use of e-scooters in line with sustainability priorities of the city.

    Stress was placed on the need to ensure pedestrian comfort and safety while awaiting national legislation. Paris is a leading example of local governance and public-private cooperation. Other similar cities are increasingly deciding to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to managing the offer and operations of new mobility services.

    In a landscape where cities are experiencing a transport transformation in many forms, a well-regulated and integrated urban mobility policy will ensure a smooth transition that is a success for all users of public space and road systems.

    Using Paris as a case study, transport planners may observe both successes and challenges in adapting to unfolding technological advances. Read the full Eltis write-up, which includes additional context, results, transferability, and opportunities for development, here.

  7. THOR AVAS launches pedestrian safety survey

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    LEVA-EU member THOR AVAS conducts research to improve road and pedestrian safety. The recently launched survey takes no more than 5 minutes and will aid in deepening the understanding of acoustic safety in relation to LEVs.

    Access the survey, here.

    “Please join us and together we will understand how to make the environment more comfortable and safer.” – THOR AVAS

  8. New German portal showcases the subjective safety of bicycle paths

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    Source: Fietsberaad

    The web-portal highlights what infrastructure should look like if it is to be experienced as ‘safe’ by the rider. The portal will act as a point of reference for future developments.

    The new portal allows the comparison of 1,700 cycling scenarios and infrastructure solutions. Data is based on an online survey of approximately 22,000 participants and 400,000 reviews.

    A cycle path that is experienced as safe by a rider increases the chance of use, and so the goal of the portal is to ensure paths feel safe; safe development will convince more individuals to consider cycling. Of course, the perception of safety is subjective, hence the study method.

    The cycle path check aims to visualize this subjective aspect. In the online database, 1,779 different embodiments for bicycle infrastructure have been identified with filter options to choose from. These include, for example, marking, presence of parking, separate bicycle paths, whether car-free, etc.

    The German Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Traffic funded the website, which was developed by FixMyCity as part of the national bicycle traffic plan. Visit the new portal here.

    An example cycling scenario, rated highly ‘safe’ by cyclists (Source: https://radwege-check.de/)

  9. New Brussels-specific e-scooter rules add stricter measures than those governing the country as a whole

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    Source: Eltis, M. Modijefsky

    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.”

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