A number of municipalities in the country are taking measures to regulate the movement of electric scooters, introducing restrictions in order to increase the safety of pedestrians and other road users.
Pavel Banya Municipality
By order of the Mayor of Pavel Banya Municipality Isa Besoolu, restrictions are being introduced for the use of scooters on the territory of the municipality, the local administration announced.
In order to create a safe environment, public order and peace of mind for pedestrians, as well as to protect the life and health of the population, safety measures will be strengthened in order to reduce the risk of accidents caused by vehicles within pedestrian zones.
According to the order, the movement of individual electric vehicles is limited (scooters), as well as foot-propelled scooters, scooters and mopeds on sidewalks, playgrounds and sports grounds, in school and kindergarten yards and in all areas designated for pedestrian traffic on the territory of Pavel Banya and in all settlements in the municipality.
Certain requirements are also introduced when using this type of vehicle in the permitted areas. The maximum permissible speed in settlements will be 25 km per hour, and drivers will be required to use protective equipment, including safety helmets. The use of the specified vehicles by persons under the age of 16 is prohibited.
The mayor's order aims to prevent accidents and the increasing danger to pedestrians caused by the illegal use of such vehicles in areas designated exclusively for pedestrian traffic, the municipal administration indicates. Control over its implementation is assigned to the head of the Police Station – Pavel Banya at the District Administration – Kazanlak.
Yesterday, the mayor of Gurkovo Municipality Kancho Papazov banned the movement of scooters, scooters and mopeds on pedestrian and park areas.
Vetovo Municipality
The movement of bicycles on sidewalks and pedestrian areas in all settlements of the Vetovo Municipality is prohibited, unless permitted by a road sign, as well as electric vehicles, with the exception of wheelchairs serving people with disabilities. This is stated in an order by Mayor Dr. Mehmed Mehmed, published on the website of the local administration in Vetovo.
The goal is to increase the safety of all road users, explains Dr. Mehmed.
His order states that minors and young people between the ages of 14 and 16 are allowed to ride electric scooters only on bicycle paths and with a helmet. All drivers must use protective equipment and drive at a speed not exceeding 25 kilometers per hour.
BTA recalls that in Ruse, by a decision of the local Municipal Council in May last year, a ban on the movement of electric scooters in the city's pedestrian zones was introduced.
The head of the “Security Police“ Commissioner Dimitar Vachkov of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Ruse said last month that since the beginning of the year, many acts have been drawn up and scooters seized from violators.
Sitovo Municipality
The mayor of the Silistra municipality of Sitovo has issued an order introducing restrictions on the use of electric scooters on the territory of the municipality. The mayor announced this in a post on social networks.
According to the order, the movement of individual electric vehicles, vehicles powered by pushing with the foot and bicycles is prohibited on sidewalks and in all pedestrian zones in settlements on the territory of the Sitovo municipality. The maximum permissible speed within settlements is 25 km/h. Drivers are required to wear safety helmets.
The use of individual electric vehicles by persons under the age of 16 is prohibited.