Geneva GE: Conditions of use for electric scooters and electric bicycles
With increasing awareness of the environmental and health benefits of soft mobility, new users of low-speed electric bicycles (max. 25km/h) and electric scooters (max. 20km/h) have been appearing in our cities in recent years.
These new modes of transport are convenient and inexpensive, but can be dangerous on public roads and can result in serious criminal penalties if violated. Remember the Terms of Service!
Driving electric scooters (max. 20 km/h) and slow electric bicycles (max. 25 km/h) on public roads is only allowed to people:
- from 16 years
- from the age of 14 if the person has a driving license for a moped category M or for agricultural and forestry motor vehicles category G.
Failure to comply with these age requirements is a misdemeanor | Art. 95 SVG.
Conditions for use on public roads
For persons aged 16 and over1, the conditions for use on public roads are described in the table below:
Consequences of violations
For the driver
Riding an electric scooter or bicycle on public roads for persons under the age of 161 can result in the following criminal penalties:
- Preliminary arrest of the driver if caught red-handed | Art. 217 StPO.
- Transport and interrogation at a police station
- Report to the juvenile court in case of release
For the person who lends or rents the device
Anyone who provides a scooter or slow electric bicycle to a young person under the age of 161 can also be prosecuted. This offense falls under di délit and the penal consequences are as follows:
- Provisional arrest if caught in the act | Art. 217 StPO.
- interrogation at a police station
- Report to the public prosecutor or the juvenile court in case of release
* There is an exception for people aged 14 and over who already have a category M or category G driver’s license.
Source: Canton of Geneva
Image source: Canton of Geneva
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