Stricter rules for electric steps in Brussels
From today 1 July, new traffic rules for electric scooters will apply. At the same time, the Brussels Region is taking successive measures, including lowering the maximum speed of shared scooters.
In order to live together harmoniously and the safety of all road users signed movements, mobility measures and the stricter rules will apply on July 1.
Elke Van den Brandt, Minister of Mobility of Brussels: “Electric steps are a convenient way to move, as long as they do not hinder pedestrians and people with reduced mobility. That is now too effectively the case. In a few years there will be Above the federal rules, decided to share steps in pedestrian zones and the number of steps per operator. for users of electric steps, the traffic rules apply.
Automatic speed limit
Brussels Mobility met with the providers of shared scooters to set the maximum speed of the e-steps in the pedestrian zone in the city center and the semi-pedestrian zone on the Elsensesteenweg de Waversesteenweg and has the Fernand Cocqplein automatically start up to 8 km/h.
Bart Dhondt, Alderman for Mobility of the City of Brussels: “Parents, their children and people with mobility problems no longer feel at ease in the pedestrian zone. By ensuring that the shared scooters cannot drive faster than walking pace, the pedestrian zone becomes a space for everyone.”
Yves Rouet, Alderman for Mobility in Ixelles: “The central location, the trendy development and the young population make Elsen an excellent market for providers of alternative mobility. It looks good on paper, but it is gradually becoming too much. and of stumbling steps, and of inappropriate behavior which endangers the weakest. Strong action was urgently needed.”
In all other places in the region, the speed of the shared scooter is limited to 20 km/h, a designed attempt is to protect the scooters themselves. In fact, we state in Brussels that the number of accidents involving an electric step has increased (from 36 in 2021 to 122 in 2022, ie +230%).
Changes in the traffic regulations
From 1 July, traffic rules for electric steps will come into effect throughout Belgium.
Georges Gilkinet, Federal Minister of Mobility explains: “The electric step is now part of our daily life. But with the development of the number of accidents, sometimes with serious consequences, the idea was to react. From 1 July new rules came into force to scooter users and the other road are better protected. Let’s strive together for more safety and fewer accidents on our roads. All For Zero”.
An overview:
- No electric scooter for those younger than 16 years, except for a limited number of exceptions (play streets, residential areas, reserved roads, etc.).
- Users of an e-step are seen as cyclists, the speed. This includes that they must comply with the traffic rules that apply to cyclists. In concrete terms, this means that they are no longer allowed to drive on, but must use the bicycle path. If there are no cycle paths, they must use the road.
- An express prohibition to carry passengers on this type of vehicle. On one step only one person, never two.
How to leave a partial step?
To improve the practical vision of pedestrians and especially less mobile people (wheelchair users, the visually impaired, people with a pram or shopping cart, etc.)
- standing, not lying,
- not on pedestrian and bicycle paths, guideline tiles for the blind and in front of a zebra crossing,
- not on the bike path from on bike markings,
- not at the entry and exit zone at public transport stops.