Using an electric scooter and leaving it improperly parked is the main cause of sanction among users. With these seven keys you will make sure to avoid the fine.
It is not just the where; the how is also important. We refer to keys to park (well) an electric scooter in large cities as this is the main offense among users of this type of personal mobility.
The mobility operator Voi has carried out a pilot test in Oslo. The Norwegian capital is one of the European cities where the use of electric scooters is imposed; it is also one of the best prepared for this type of mobility. There, during the time that the study lasted, more than 50% of the users finished their trips and parked in or near the parking solutions. “This shows the direct relationship between a good parking infrastructure and better behavior among users.“, say those responsible for the study.
If the same test were carried out in Madrid, the results would be quite different. In the capital of Spain, on average, 600 daily fines for users of improperly parked scooters.
Seven keys to parking your electric scooter well
The company of micromobility provides seven keys to take into account when parking an electric scooter:
- Don’t block the sidewalks. Arriving at the destination and dropping the scooter at the same point tops the list of more frequent fines among electric scooter users. From Voi they advise: “Before finishing the trip, think about how others, including those with visual or mobility problems, may be affected by the scooter“.
- Avoid the parking lots overcrowded. If you’re in a city with designated parking spaces and a lot of scooters are already parked in one, move on to the next one. Fewer than 10 vehicles in a parking area is a good rule of thumb.
- Keep the free access points. It is the same for any vehicle. We must ensure that our vehicles do not block the entrance or exit of garages, bus stops, shops or subway stations, etc.
- Keep the order. If you see three well parked scooters in a row, join that row. And better if it is in a vertical position and pointing in the same direction.
- Don’t block traffic. Keep roads, bike lanes, and crosswalks clear.
- Park in vertical position. Your scooter must be parked in an upright position. Incline scooters take up a lot of space, are difficult to overtake and are a safety concern, especially for the most vulnerable groups.
- Leave it alone in the service area. Each operator has a limited service area and you must leave your scooter parked in this perimeter; some have compulsory parking areas (so if you leave the vehicle outside of them you will be penalized).
What is the fine for leaving a scooter incorrectly parked
Regarding the amount, each city council sets the penalties to be paid. Madrid, for example, penalizes with fines of 30 euros to those who leave the scooter parked in a prohibited place. The penalty for driving on sidewalks or pedestrian areas or not respecting traffic lights is usually 200 euros.
This article was published in Autobild by Noelia López.