Chrysochoidis: Plan for a complete ban on e-scooters for minors

The Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, unveiled plans for a complete ban on e-scooters for minors.

“The handling of this issue is particularly complex and difficult. It is an environmentally friendly means of transport, and we must find a way for people to use it safely. The first measure is a complete ban for minors. Secondly, if an e-scooter hits you today, who will compensate you? Accidents are multiplying. Mandatory insurance is needed.

This phenomenon of leaving them abandoned on sidewalks, preventing people from walking, with hundreds of scooters on central streets, must come to an end,” Mr. Chrysochoidis said during an interview with SKAI TV.

“These issues will be regulated very quickly, and municipalities must also take measures regarding parking and, if necessary, limit the number of scooters,” the minister noted.

The minister’s remarks came one day after he announced upcoming changes to the current legislative framework.

Speaking on MEGA TV, the Minister of Citizen Protection referred to the Traffic Police’s efforts to impose basic traffic rules, such as helmet use and speed limits, while also emphasizing that stricter measures for minors are under consideration. As he stated: “The Traffic Police are trying to introduce rules — helmets, speed limits. Minors are prohibited from riding on roads, and a new regulation will be introduced.”

When asked whether the use of scooters is currently allowed in pedestrian zones and public squares, Mr. Chrysochoidis replied that the issue is already being addressed through new regulations in cooperation with the relevant ministry, stressing: “We will now establish it by law; we are discussing it with Mr. Kyranakis.”

The minister also expressed his personal view on the matter, underlining the need for stricter rules: “A minor cannot ride a scooter to school. My personal position is that scooters should be banned. It is tragic for children to lose their lives on roads because of scooters.”

Concluding, Michalis Chrysochoidis emphasized the need for a comprehensive regulatory framework that would set clear limits on their use, stating: “A comprehensive regulation is needed to ban or restrict scooters. I understand a child’s need to play with a scooter in a square, but it is a different matter when they are riding on a road. If there are no dedicated lanes exclusively for bicycles and scooters, I fear that more lives will be lost.”