Is urban infrastructure ready for a new “eco-friendly” road users?

    13 May 2021

    Is there a conflict between pedestrians and users of eco-vehicles – scooters and bicycles?

    Demand for light personal transport is growing in developed countries due to quarantine restrictions, but urban infrastructure may not be ready for new road users.

    We thank Hmarochos for an excellent overview of the experience of Western countries in regulating these planet-friendly modes of transport.

    Western experience

    Most European countries faced a boom in LPT a few years ago and have already approved rules for its use. For the most part, they concern the minimum age of users, maximum speed, and also prohibit the LPT movement on the sidewalks.

    In Denmark, the official use of electric scooters on bike paths was established in January 2019. To use such transport, you must be over 15 years old and follow the rules of the road that work for cyclists, and not drive on the sidewalk.

    At the same time, in 2020, Copenhagen planned to ban the rental and parking of electric scooters in the center, in the most developed areas of the city. One of the main reasons is that it has become extremely difficult for the elderly to move through the streets, where vehicles of this kind are left unattended and with violations of parking rules. In addition, electric scooters (e-scooters) occupy a place that the city could use otherwise.

    In France, the rules for the use of motorized personal transport were officially defined in October 2019. Among the main provisions there’s a ban on driving on sidewalks and limiting the speed of such vehicles to 25 km / h. The age of users must be over 12 years. Also, people mustn’t use a mobile phone or headphones while driving.

    A few months earlier, e-scooters were settled in Paris. In particular, there are clearly defined places for parking such vehicles. But the main thing – they limited the number of rental services to three (16 companies applied) and the number of rental e-scooters in the city to 15 000.

    In Germany, e-scooters were also legalized in 2019. The minimum age for users of such transport here is 14 years, and the maximum speed is 20 km/h. It’s possible to move on LPT by bicycle paths, and in case of their absence – by roads (except highways). It’s separately stated that the vehicle must have an insurance card. As in other countries, wearing a helmet isn’t mandatory, but it is recommended.

    Until recently, e-scooters were virtually completely banned in the UK: although they could be purchased freely, such vehicles were only allowed on private land with the permission of the landowner. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a need to unload public transport and government decided to revise this rule.

    In July 2020, an annual test period began, during which local authorities may issue permits to electric scooter rental services to operate in clearly defined areas. The Department of Transport has developed a number of rules for users of such services. First, to rent an electric scooter, you must be over 16 years old and have a permanent or temporary driver’s license that entitles you to drive a car, motorcycle or moped.

    Users of such scooters are forbidden to move on the sidewalk and it’s recommended to wear a helmet. And their speed is limited to 15.5 miles per hour (25 km/h). At the same time, private e-scooters remain banned.

    In the US, there’s a definition of an electric scooter at the federal level, but no rules for using it. They are introduced by individual states. For example, in California, such vehicles can be used by people over the age of 16 with a driver’s license (or student license). At the same time, they are obliged to wear a protective helmet before the age of 18.

    It’s necessary to travel by e-scooter on bicycle paths and bicycle lanes, where possible, at a speed of up to 15 miles per hour. I’is forbidden to drive on sidewalks and pedestrian crossings: to turn left, drivers of such vehicles need to get off and cross the road, driving a scooter next to them.

    In Singapore, users of e- scooters were banned from driving on sidewalks after a series of traumatic events. Violators face a fine of two thousand Singapore dollars or even three months in prison. At the same time e-scooters are forbidden also on highways, they can be moved only on bicycle paths. Now their length in Singapore is 440 km, but the network is planned to expand to 740 k, by 2025.

    Not just the law, but “new ethics” too

    Electric scooters and other LPV have many benefits for the city: they’re comfortable, take up less space than cars, do not pollute the air, let you avoid crowds during a pandemic and solve the problem of “last mile”.

    The term “last mile” is used in logistics and e-commerce to describe the last stage of delivery of goods to the buyer. In passenger transport, the term describes the last stage of the “work-home” journey. E. g., if you can go by car to the metro, then take the metro and the “last mile” to work on foot or take a taxi, car sharing or rent an e-scooter or bike.

    However, in order for the development of new modes of transport not to lead to conflicts and the struggle for urban space, they must be taken into account. And not only in the legal field, but also on the streets of the city. In particular, cities all over the world need developing a convenient and safe infrastructure, like bike paths and “streets for all”.

    The concept of “streets for all” (complete streets) in many ways resembles what the old cities looked like before the spread of cars.

    The concept places the same priority on pedestrians, bicyclists and public transport users as on motorists. The initiative aims to improve the quality of life for all users by designing streets that are both safe public spaces and enable high-performance, sustainable transportation networks.

    The urbanists of the University of California see this concept as a solution to the issue of coexistence of LPT with other members of the movement. The idea provides enough space for all possible road users with a large number of intersections, with appropriate elements of organization and safety, which creates a comfortable and green street space with low speeds.

    Another option is the concept of shared space, in which cars, cyclists, pedestrians and others move in the same space without clearly defined sidewalks and crossings. In this case, the one who moves faster takes responsibility not to injure others.

    Anna Danylenko, Ukrainian cycling expert, said that for comfortable coexistence it’s important to develop a “new ethics”: “It should be based on mutual respect and understanding that other traffic participants are also adequate, nice and non-conflicting. And they don’t want to injure anyone”.

    What about using fast LPV in the Gulf? Let’s check in the following articles.

    Spoiler: people in Dubai who own e-scooters are able to use them freely – but only in the designated zones, a senior transport officials told the UAE media in 2020.

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