In some cities, news of more or less serious accidents involving electric scooters is too often chased in the local news. At the same time, however, the means for the so-called soft mobility represent one of the possible cornerstones in the transition towards more sustainable urban travel. The use of hoverboards, segways, monowheels, bicycles, and scooters is encouraged both by the mobility bonus and by the need to reduce the crowding of public transport as a measure to combat the pandemic. In short, an important technological resource, which collectively we must learn to exploit in the right way.
But what is allowed and what cannot be done on a scooter? From a legal point of view, the fundamental reference is an amendment approved on December 27, 2019, published in the Official Gazette 3 days later, and in force from January 1, 2020. The law 160/2019 paragraph 75, in particular, equates fledged scooters to bicycles, making them vehicles recognized by Italian law by Articles 68 and 182 of the Highway Code. The only two constraints that must be respected for the scooter-bicycle equivalence to be valid are power and speed maximum: the upper power limit is set at 500 watts (0.5 kW), while the speed limit is 25 km / h, except in pedestrian areas where it is necessary to stay within a maximum of 6 km / h.
Before getting on board
It is all very simple: just like a bicycle, a scooter does not require registration, nor a license plate, nor to wear special protections (for adults), nor to take out an insurance policy. On this last point, however, it is possible to organize independently, through forms of insurance that protect in the event of an accident. Many of the companies that offer urban electric mobility services on two wheels already have policies on their entire fleet, for obvious reasons, but other individual ones can be taken out for damage and accidents. Always present should then be an acoustic signal (the bell), just like on bicycles.
The rest of the things you need to know depends on your age, the time slot you want to use the scooter, and the weather conditions. Under the age of 14, for example, the use of the electric scooter is prohibited, while between the ages of 14 and 18 it is allowed only as long as the user wears a helmet. Over the age of 18, the helmet is only optional, even if there are some stakeholders who (for safety reasons, or simply of economic interest) push for the obligation to be extended to everyone. Weather and time slot, on the other hand, affect visibility. When it gets dark or the conditions are particularly bad, you need to have a headlight with white light and rear light with red light, with a reflector. Furthermore, it is mandatory to wear a reflective vest or similar suspenders.
To be precise, the night mode is foreseen from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before dawn, obviously including all-night hours, plus all those cases in which visibility is compromised by the presence of fog, heavy rain, or in general of perturbations.
Finally, it should be noted that if the maximum power of 500 watts is exceeded, or if a saddle or a seat more than 54 cm above the ground is installed, the scooter would transform from a regulatory point of view into an electric moped, subject to completely different legislation. In particular, the license plate, homologation, registration, driving license, insurance, and homologated helmet would become mandatory. And all the possible fines and administrative penalties would become much higher.
Once onboard
Scooters can’t drive everywhere, but just like bicycles, they have a wide choice of roads on which they are allowed. In general, and more than anything else, they can circulate on all urban roads where the limit of 30 or 50 km / h applies (for the scooter, however, the maximum is always 25 km / h). On extra-urban roads, they cannot circulate unless they are flanked by a cycle path: as is obvious scooters can circulate on all cycle paths, while they cannot go where access to bicycles is precluded. Finally, even in urban areas, it is not possible to use a scooter where the limit for cars is higher than 50 km / h, such as on fast roads.
As for the relationship with pedestrians, there are two things to know. In pedestrian areas, they can circulate freely (the speed limit is 6 km / h), while on pavements they cannot be used, except by getting off and transporting them by hand. The pavement rule also applies to pedestrian crossings – unless there is also a cycle crossing next to it – and in general extends to all those situations in which only pedestrians are allowed.
The rest of the rules should first of all be of common sense, even before being sanctioned by law. Only the driver can stay on the scooter, i.e. one person at a time, and you cannot take large and bulky objects with you. A backpack and handbag are allowed, but luggage, animals, friends, and children are not. In the case of a second person on board, one speaks of the infringement of undue transport of passengers. The handlebar should always be held with both hands, except when the arm is extended to signal a turn. And of course, it is forbidden to drive up or make other changes and stunts on the streets and in pedestrian areas.
From the point of view of multiple scooters in formation, it is generally suggested to proceed in a single file. In the streets open to car traffic it is mandatory to keep a single row, while in the pedestrian areas it is allowed that you can proceed with scooters side by side in pairs, but never more than two.
The administrative penalties provided, however, are rather mild. Except in the case in which damage is caused to other people or things (a scenario that is far from rare), the fines amount depending on the type of infringement from 50 to 200 euros. With a combo of infringements, you can still go up to 400 euros. Exceptions to these relatively low figures are the aforementioned cases in which the electric scooter has been rigged to exceed the power limit or modified effectively transforming it into a moped: in addition to the confiscation of the vehicle, penalties of up to several thousand euros are also envisaged, corresponding lack of insurance coverage, driving without a license and much more.
Finally, a positive note: if they can be folded to the size of normal luggage, electric scooters can be taken on board public transport at no extra charge, both on trains and buses.
