Tag Archive: shared scooters

  1. Turin to introduce over 1,250 shared scooter parking spaces

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    Source: Torinoggi

    In response to widespread issues with improperly parked scooters and bicycles, the Italian city of Turin has announced 180 designated parking areas

    It is hoped that this initiative will help regulate parking behavior, improve urban mobility, and reduce the number of fines issued for violations. According to data from the Turin Municipal Police, a significant portion of fines issued to bicycle and scooter users—both private and shared-use—are due to poor parking practices. Of the 4,152 fines recorded in 2024, 2,602 (approximately 62%) were related to illegal parking. The remaining 1,550 fines were issued for unsafe riding behavior, such as using sidewalks instead of roads or designated cycle paths.

    New regulations and parking spaces

    The recent amendments to the Italian Highway Code have introduced stricter regulations for scooter riders, including requirements for helmets, license plates, and prohibitions on sidewalk parking. In line with these changes, Turin’s municipal government has announced the establishment of 1,253 designated parking spaces for scooters across the city’s eight districts. These new spaces are expected to be operational by the end of February 2025.

    Mobility Councilor Chiara Foglietta provided details on the initiative in response to a request from Forza Italia leader Federica Scanderebech. The parking areas will function as “virtual” zones, communicated through an official ordinance. Users will be able to locate these designated spaces via GPS coordinates and scooter-sharing applications.

    Strategic distribution of parking areas

    The implementation of these parking spaces will prioritize areas with high demand. The city center and Crocetta district will receive 273 parking spaces, with 80 allocated specifically to Porta Nuova. The largest allocation will be in District 8, which includes San Salvario, Lingotto, Cavoretto, and Borgo Po, where 89 new zones will provide 623 parking spaces.

    Response and expectations

    Forza Italia representative Federica Scanderebech welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the urgent need for a structured approach to scooter parking. “We hope that the ordinance is the beginning of a necessary and no longer postponable reorganization,” she stated. She further noted that while scooters were introduced as a sustainable mobility solution, their improper use has negatively impacted urban life.

    The introduction of these designated parking areas represents a significant step towards integrating scooters into Turin’s transportation system in a more orderly and efficient manner. Authorities anticipate that these measures will help mitigate public concerns while supporting the continued use of micro-mobility solutions in the city.

  2. Scotland’s first e-scooter trials set to launch

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    Source: The Scotsman

    Cross-border talks for Scotland to join the next round of e-scooter trials.

    Scotland is preparing for its first-ever electric scooter rental trial within the next nine months, according to Voi, England’s largest e-scooter operator. Discussions are underway between the Scottish Government and the UK government to join an expanded initiative. Voi, which manages two-thirds of the 20+ trials currently operating in England, highlighted that this new phase would allow Scottish councils to finally explore e-scooter use—four years after the initial trials were introduced by the former Conservative government.

    Current legal status of e-scooters in Scotland

    At present, only e-scooters involved in English rental trials are allowed on public roads. In Scotland, e-scooters remain illegal on roads and pavements but are permitted on private property with the owner’s consent. Despite this, they are legally available for purchase and have become increasingly common in many areas north of the Border.

    UK Transport Secretary Louise Haigh recently suggested that private e-scooter legalisation could happen in the future, though not before next year. In a similar vein, Scotland’s Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop remarked in May that such changes are inevitable.

    Legislative challenges and council interest

    For Scottish councils to participate in upcoming trials, legislative amendments are required. Glasgow and Midlothian councils have expressed interest in hosting rental schemes, but progress has been delayed due to the absence of enabling legislation. Glasgow City Council noted that it had agreed to a trial back in 2020 but is still awaiting legislative approval from Transport Scotland. Similarly, Midlothian Council reiterated its readiness for a trial, pending funding and regulatory changes.

    Transport Scotland, the government’s transport agency, confirmed it is in talks with the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to evaluate potential participation. The City of Edinburgh Council also expressed interest in learning from trials elsewhere but emphasized that meaningful progress is dependent on legislative clarity.

    Voi’s vision for e-scooter expansion in Scotland

    James Bolton, Voi UK’s general manager, stated that Scotland is a key focus for the company in the coming year. He expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with Scottish cities, noting significant interest from local authorities. Bolton highlighted that e-scooter trials in England over the past four years have demonstrated substantial benefits, such as reducing car trips and shifting travel patterns—a goal aligned with Transport Scotland’s target of cutting car travel by 20% by 2030.

    Bolton also addressed safety concerns, emphasizing that serious accident rates have fallen by over 70% since the trials began. According to him, e-scooters are now as safe as bicycles, bolstered by data from Voi’s operations in 17 English cities, including London, Liverpool, and Oxford, where 1.8 million riders have completed 40 million trips.

    A missed opportunity and renewed optimism

    Although Scotland missed the opportunity to participate in the initial e-scooter trials, there is renewed optimism that a rental scheme could become operational on Scottish streets within the next nine months. This development could mark a significant step forward in sustainable transportation for the region, helping reduce car dependency and providing a new, eco-friendly travel option for Scottish commuters.

  3. Australia set to legalise e-scooters on streets as a part of a plan to reduce city congestion

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    New South Wales is preparing to legalise e-scooter use for commuters in an effort to reduce road congestion.

    Source: Daily Mail

    The “E-micromobility Action plan“, released ahead of a parliamentary inquiry into electric bikes and scooters, aims to establish legal and regulatory guidelines for these devices. Although e-scooters can be purchased legally in New South Wales, using them on public roads is currently prohibited.

    Despite the ban, estimates suggest there are around 459,000 privately owned e-scooters in the state. Shared e-scooter services are also banned, although trials have been approved in select areas, including Albury, Kogarah, Forster-Tuncurry, and Wollongong.

    Transport Minister Jo Haylen supports the plan, which would permit both private and shared e-scooters for commuting to and from rail and Metro stations. Under the proposal, riders must be at least 16 years old, wear helmets, and use bike paths or shared zones. The plan also recommends investments in infrastructure, such as shared paths and parking bays for e-scooters.

    Transport for New South Wales highlighted that the plan “recognises the potential for e-micromobility to be a safe, sustainable and accessible transport option for the people of New South Wales” The department added that e-scooters could provide an efficient “last-mile” solution, connecting people to public transportation.

    Haylen explained that while the focus is on regulating private e-scooters, the government is open to working with councils interested in shared e-scooter initiatives.Haylen expressed that legalising and regulating e-scooters would benefit everyone by alleviating congestion on the state’s roads. She noted, “Allowing people to ride an e-scooter to the shops or nearby train stations will take pressure off our roads and lessen competition for parking,” as reported by the Daily Telegraph. However, she acknowledged that some work remains to strike the right balance.

    According to Ms. Haylen, new regulations are needed for e-scooters and e-bikes due to certain safety concerns highlighted in the report, as the devices are not without controversy. These concerns include speeding, riding on footpaths, operating under the influence, and potential risks to vulnerable pedestrians.

    Between 2020 and 2023, police recorded 124 e-scooter accidents, resulting in three fatalities and 116 injuries, 40 of which were classified as serious.

    Pedestrian Council of Australia CEO Harold Scruby criticised the increase in private e-scooter and e-bike usage as “pure anarchy.” In his submission to the parliamentary inquiry, Scruby warned that these devices could turn footpaths into “hostile” and potentially dangerous areas for pedestrians, stating, “To show such utter contempt for pedestrians and turn footpaths into hostile and potentially lethal environments defies belief.”

    The push for e-scooter legalisation in New South Wales follows Melbourne’s recent decision to ban public e-scooter rentals. In August, Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Nick Reece, introduced an amended motion in a Future Melbourne committee meeting, resulting in the termination of contracts with e-scooter providers Lime and Neuron. However, the ban does not affect private e-scooters, which remain allowed in the central business district and nearby areas such as Carlton and Southbank.

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