Electric scooters for rent in Bucharest will generally only be available for use by individuals who are at least 18 years old. The General Council of the Capital approved a new regulation on Tuesday that introduces restrictions on circulation and parking, fees for operators, and fines of up to 10,000 lei.
The new rules have already triggered a reaction from a local operator. The owner of Splash, an electric scooter rental service present in Bucharest for seven years, announced that he will close his business at the end of the year, citing additional costs.
Who else can rent scooters
According to Agerpres, the new regulation allows electric scooters to be rented only by persons at least 18 years old.
There is an exception for teenagers who are at least 16 years old and hold a driving license for categories AM, A1, or B1.
Operators will have to verify users’ ages when registering accounts, through identity documents or electronic identification systems.
The rules apply to rental services, not to electric scooters owned by private individuals.
Where scooters will no longer be allowed to circulate and park
Operators will have to be able to restrict scooter usage via GPS in the Old Town and other areas designated by the municipality. Circulation may also be limited under hazardous weather conditions, including ice or slippery surfaces.
Scooters will not be allowed to park in places where they block pedestrians, traffic, or access to buildings. Parking will also be prohibited at STB stops, on pedestrian crossings, bike lanes, and green spaces.
Operators will be required to move scooters parked improperly within two hours of notification. If they block access or endanger traffic safety, the intervention must be immediate.
Failure to meet relocation deadlines may be punished with fines between 2,000 and 5,000 lei. Companies operating without authorization risk fines between 8,000 and 10,000 lei and, in certain cases, confiscation of the scooters.
New fees for companies
The regulation also introduces a daily fee of 0.75 lei for each scooter placed on public property, as well as an annual authorization fee of 5,000 lei for each operator, according to Economedia.
For a fleet of 1,000 scooters, the daily fee would amount to 750 lei, which is approximately 274,000 lei per year if all vehicles were charged every day.
An operator announces withdrawal: “The last autumn!”
Octavian Marin, the owner of Splash, announced on Facebook that his business will no longer be able to continue after the introduction of the new fees. “Splash! Goodbye!”, he began his message, in which he talks about the seven years of activity and the investment of over one million euros in scooters and software.
According to the entrepreneur, the investment has not been recovered, and the company has operated each year at the limit of operational profitability. “The Bucharest City Hall, through the regulation adopted today, at the end of this year, will put us out of business,” Marin wrote.
In response to a critical comment, the entrepreneur explained that the main expenses are collecting and charging scooters, repairs, vandalism, storage, and staff.
He claims that between 200 and 300 scooters are vandalized annually and that the introduction of the fee for occupying public space will make it impossible to continue the activity.
Marin specified that he does not contest the municipality’s right to regulate this service. “We respect the community rules. We accept the new regulations and will withdraw,” the owner of Splash stated.
Protective helmet could become mandatory for everyone
The new rules in Bucharest come just one day after the Senate adopted a bill that introduces the obligation to wear protective helmets for all people riding electric scooters or bicycles, regardless of age. Currently, the obligation applies only to those under 16 years old who ride on the roadway. However, the bill must also be adopted by the Chamber of Deputies to become law.
The Senate also approved, on October 12, another legislative initiative which states that people without a driving license will have to take and pass a road traffic legislation course in order to be allowed to ride electric scooters on public roads. Those who already hold a license will be exempt. This measure is also not yet in force.