The growing popularity of electric scooters, skateboards, and those strange wheels you hold between your legs has created a tense atmosphere on the streets, sidewalks, and bike paths. The fact that the law (as usual) lagged behind didn't help matters—the movement began to lean toward a distinctly anarchist direction. New regulations for electric scooters and other forms of personal transportation, introduced on May 20, 2021, are intended to change this, and I think everyone agrees that this is necessary. Below, you'll learn more about the regulations and what a person who cycles daily in Warsaw's city center thinks about them.
Clear classification
The amendment to the Road Traffic Act introduces three categories of vehicles. The first are the titular electric scooters , two-axle electrically powered vehicles equipped with handlebars but without pedals or a seat. Personal Transport Devices, abbreviated as UTOs, are defined almost identically, but without any mention of the handlebars. This category therefore includes skateboards, unicycles, Segways (which have handlebars but only one axle), hoverboards, etc. Anything electrically powered but not a scooter. Mobility Assistance Devices are also included. UWRs include all devices powered by human power while standing. Roller skates, skateboards, regular scooters, roller skates, and probably a thousand others I haven't heard of. This division seems clear to me, and due to the very simple terminology, difficult to circumvent. Maneuvering around the rules is one of our national specialties, but in this case, I don't think it's possible. But who knows?
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What do the regulations allow for scooters?
First and foremost, all of the above-mentioned modes of transport should be used on bicycle paths. However, there is a speed limit for electric vehicles of 20 km/h. Yes, you read that correctly. 20. Electric scooters (but not electric scooters) can also use bicycle lanes, and if there is no bicycle path, they can use the street if the maximum speed limit does not exceed 30 km/h.
If none of the above are available, everyone is invited to use the sidewalk. However, you must yield to pedestrians, not obstruct pedestrian traffic, exercise extreme caution (!), and travel at a speed similar to that of pedestrians. Whether this is more about Usain Bolt or your ninety-year-old neighbor, the regulations don't specify. I have a feeling this could be a problem...
Obligations and rights
In addition to the maximum speed limit, the new regulations for electric scooters equate all users of bike paths with their primary users – cyclists. Therefore, signaling when turning, maintaining a safe distance, and so on are mandatory. When the bike path crosses the road, cyclists have priority over cars, just like cyclists. However, like cyclists, they must walk across pedestrian crossings. In residential areas, scooter, UTO, and UWR users are treated as pedestrians, meaning they have priority over cars. This all makes a lot of sense.
Who can drive and how?
Everyone is allowed on the UWR. Electric scooters and electric scooters require a category AM, BM, or B1 driving license, or a bicycle license for those aged 10 to 18. Adults can ride without any licenses. Children under 10 are not exempt, however – they are allowed to use powered equipment in residential areas under the supervision of an adult. Most importantly (in my opinion), drunk people are not allowed to ride. The regulations define "intoxication and after the use of alcohol," which in practice means 0.2 per mille. Above 0.5 per mille, the fine will be higher.
You're also not allowed to carry loads (the record I've seen is carrying three scooters), animals, or other people (a common practice, especially late Saturday evenings near Savior Square). We also won't be able to talk on the phone. Parking for scooters has also been regulated – they should be parked along the sidewalk, as far from the road as possible, and only where it doesn't obstruct pedestrian traffic and leaves at least 1.5 spaces. No more obstacle courses! An improperly parked scooter may be towed, which, like storage, will be charged to the owner.
What do the new scooter regulations mean for cyclists?
Aside from the unthinkable "walking speed," the new regulations for electric scooters seem surprisingly good to me. I admit, I'm not thrilled by the prospect of paths being clogged with throngs of limping scooter riders, skateboarders, and electric roller skaters. Cyclists alone are a sufficient threat to each other (a topic for a separate post). However, I prefer this situation to the current chaos. Yes, the current one, because so far (written June 11, 2021), absolutely nothing has changed, at least in my area. Introducing regulations is one thing, enforcing them is another.
From what I've read on several websites, sobriety checkpoints have started and are taking a heavy toll. Great. Are you high? Take an Uber. Seriously, in the evenings, more scooter users zigzag than straight. Riding between them resembles a moving obstacle course, and risky overtaking by millimeters is commonplace (during the day, too, actually). There's also no problem with fines for people carrying cargo or other people. I wonder what the parking fines will be like.
See also - New fines for cyclists
Scooters are unlikely to slow down
But what about speed? Recently, a guy on a scooter (in shorts, no helmet) overtook me on Puławska Street while I was driving. The speedometer read 55 km/h. I doubt I'll be able to convince him not to exceed 20 km/h. How could I? A speed camera won't catch someone on a scooter—it's too small. Even if models designed for this purpose exist, the Municipal Police aren't authorized to use them. They'd have to implement sectional speed measurement or deputize police officers. Both seem unlikely to me (I hope I'm wrong). Currently, the Municipal Police openly admit they have no way to enforce this law.
Most city scooters travel much slower – hovering around 30 km/h (18 mph), but considering that their users typically use full power, it turns out the regulation is dead. At least until rental operators limit the speed of their machines. And that's quite possible, especially since the amendment gives local governments significant scope for intervention.
In my opinion, 20 km/h is completely inappropriate for bike lane use. Most people on bikes go at least a little faster (I'm not talking about people on roads). This means a lot of overtaking on narrow, often winding paths. I believe a 30 km/h limit would be more appropriate. After all, if UTO and scooter users are subject to similar rules as cyclists, they should form a cohesive traffic flow with them.
New scooter regulations are one thing, common sense is another
The amendment solves some problems and allows us to hope that the number of accidents (especially on sidewalks) will decrease thanks to merciless fines. However, it won't discourage rude and risky behavior. Of course, I know that not every user rides such equipment like an idiot. It just so happens that over the past year, most of the dangerous situations I've encountered on the road or on a bike path involved attempts to avoid collisions with scooters ( e-bikes in second place). If I had to guess, I'd guess a lack of experience combined with the scooter's aggressive and sensitive handling (small wheels, handlebars almost directly above the fork). Most users haven't switched from bikes – they're people who want to get to their destination quickly and effortlessly and don't particularly care about other road users. Before, they used cars or public transportation. Compared to them, a scooter or skateboard is, above all, a celebration of freedom. And they've only been riding for a short time. No wonder they don't know how to behave.
Contrary to appearances, this isn't bad news. Think back to what cycling in the city was like just a few, maybe a dozen, years ago. Both driver and cyclist cultures have changed dramatically in that time. So, although I still curse while dodging elegantly dressed pony riders on small wheels, I'm naively optimistic that time will allow them to mature. And for those who ride politely – you're fantastic! The new regulations will benefit both us and you! With a little common sense and understanding, we'll all fit.
The text of the act can be found here.
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