Prague To Introduce New Laws For Expats’ Favourite E-scooter Transport

Lime e-scooters in Prague are to be subject to a raft of new laws based on zoning as well banning driving on pavements and speed restrictions.

The convenient little electric scooters have become a favourite means of transport for expats as well as locals fed up with Prague’s massive traffic jams. The city fathers are concerned about the use of scooters on pavements as well as dangerous driving on the city’s notoriously crammed roads and the endangerment of pedestrians in narrow streets. Negotiations began late last year, and the new rules will come into force in the near future.

Firstly, expats and locals renting the handy electric scooters will need to sign an agreement forbidding them from riding on pavements, blocking main road traffic by driving recklessly and parking in non-reserved spaces. A maximum number of scooters will be allowed at any one time, but more rental sites will be established outside the city centre in order to allow residents to hire them for the trip between their homes and the nearest metro station. The city fathers are also critical of hirers’ lack of knowledge of the rules applicable when hiring a scooter, with a marketing scheme now being put together in order to demonstrate correct scooter etiquette to both expats and local drivers.

The little lime-green runabouts only arrived in the city last September, but have become immensely popular with commuters and shoppers alike, but are causing controversy due to haphazard parking and their presence on the sidewalks. They’re unlocked via a phone app, cost 25Kc to hire and Kc2 per minute, and can go as fast as 25kph. Wearing helmets are legally necessary, but not many hirers seem to be aware of this fact.