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Modern cities often try to relieve traffic in the center of cars. They appeal to the use of more environmentally friendly forms of transport, such as buses or bicycles. One option is e-scooters. However, in addition to a new method of transportation, they also bring with them certain risks.

There is a fine line between the advantages and disadvantages of electric scooters. The initial success of scooters in the city has been replaced by problems in the form of accidents, incorrect parking and inappropriate use. The sharing system is often criticized for overloading sidewalks and riders are perceived as reckless and pose a risk to themselves and others. How are European cities trying to deal with the risks and what challenges await us in the future?

The center of Bratislava turns into a cluster of various means of transport on a summer evening. On one side, there are people on shared e-scooters or bicycles, who quickly whizz past the column of cars, on the other side, we have pedestrians who walk around abandoned scooters on the sidewalks and wait for a bus or taxi. Shared micro-mobility has become a symbol of modern transport in recent years – more environmentally friendly than cars, more flexible than public transport. But it has also raised questions about safety, regulation and whether the infrastructure in European cities is even ready for it.

Electric scooters often block pedestrian walkways. Source freepik.com

(In)Safety in numbers

Critics often point to accidents and injuries caused by e-scooters. However, data from Micro-Mobility for Europe shows that in 2021 the number of injuries requiring medical attention fell by 60 percent compared to 2019. In 2024, there was a further decline, with the number of injuries falling by 7.9 percent per million kilometers. At the same time, compared to the previous year, the number of rides increased by four percent and the total number of injuries among users of shared e-scooters fell by four percent.

Fatal or serious injury accidents requiring medical treatment also fell by 29.8 percent per million kilometers between 2021 and 2024. It is important to note that in more than 80 percent of e-scooter rider deaths , a heavier motor vehicle was also present. However, alarmingly, only four percent of all e-scooter users were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Risky riders include children and teenagers, who are more likely to have an accident on e-scooters than on non-electric ones. They also have a higher risk of serious head injuries. An analysis from the pediatric emergency room showed that the age of the injured ranged from five to 15 years. One in ten had a life-threatening injury and a third broke at least one bone. Patient data also shows that 42 percent of children were not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, 36 percent were exceeding the maximum speed limit, and in 13 percent of cases, two people were riding the same scooter.

Another study that analyzed injuries showed that compared to bicycles, accidents on electric scooters more often occur on weekends and in connection with alcohol. Experts also point to riskier behavior of e-scooter riders compared to regular micromobility riders. This was mainly due to not wearing a helmet (57 percent) and drinking alcohol before the trip (9 percent).

Most riders do not wear a helmet while riding an electric scooter. Source: pixabay.com

The new wave of micromobility

Electric scooters have found their place in many European cities. The Statista Mobility Market Outlook survey showed a sharp increase in electric scooter users worldwide. In 2018, there were only ten million users worldwide, in 2022 there were 77 million and in 2025 it is expected that there will be 110 million e-scooter fans.

According to statistics, up to 16 percent of residents of Finland and 14 percent of Sweden have used a shared scooter in the last 12 months. In Germany, Poland and Switzerland, it was 12 percent of residents. However, when it comes to owning an e-scooter, Lithuanians dominate the statistics . Almost a fifth of respondents had access to an electric scooter in their household. Lithuania is followed by Spain and France.

Surprisingly, however, according to a survey in Germany, e-scooters are most often used for fun. In second place is an alternative to walking, and then constant accessibility. It is also often used for short trips or as an alternative to public transport. Scooters can relieve cities of cars and are a quick alternative to public transport, especially on crowded lines or night services.

The popularity of shared electric scooters is also shown by the profits of the companies that operate them. They have skyrocketed since 2018 and have multiplied several times. Experts expect the market for shared electric scooters in Europe to grow further and reach 706.37 million euros in 2025. It is expected to expand for the next five years with an annual growth rate of 4.1 percent. In 2030, the volume of profits is expected to reach 866.08 million euros.

However, scooters have disappeared from some European cities. Source: pixabay.com

Regulation in Europe

European cities and states mostly deal with e-scooters at the national or local level. There is no uniform European legislation that would determine age limits, helmet requirements or speed limits. The European Union does not yet regulate e-scooters as a separate category, they fall under the general framework directive on vehicle and transport safety. However, the European Transport Safety Council calls for the creation of uniform technical requirements, including a speed limit of 20 km/h, lights or braking performance.

If we look at specific European cities, shared e-scooters first began to disappear in 2023. That year, a referendum was held in Paris, in which only about 8 percent of people participated, but they mostly agreed that electric scooters had no place on the streets of Paris. Opponents criticized dangerous driving, high speeds and poor parking. After the democratic referendum, e-scooters really disappeared from the streets. Madrid followed in Paris’ footsteps, revoking the licenses of three e-vehicle operators and no longer granting them to others.

After an increase in accidents, Italy introduced stricter rules in the form of mandatory helmets, contractual insurance and registration numbers. The use of electric scooters in pedestrian zones, on cycle paths and off roads was also banned. Stricter fines for unauthorized parking were also introduced. E-scooter rental companies criticized the restrictions and considered them too strict. They argue that their vehicles have a speed limit or geolocation to minimize the risk of misuse.

Finland, for example, has also introduced restrictions. They have banned riding for persons under 15 years of age, limited the maximum speed to 25 km/h, and also introduced a mandatory license for operators. Slovakia is also planning to ban e-scooters that go faster than 25 km/h. The amendment to the law was submitted by the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, and if approved, the rules should come into effect on December 1, 2025.

Ecological paradox

Scooters are often presented as an ecological alternative to traditional travel. However, research suggests that they may not be so beneficial to the environment. First of all, it concerns the lifespan of shared e-scooters, which is often significantly shortened by vandalism or improper handling. The production of lithium-ion batteries is also energy-intensive and associated with the extraction of raw materials such as lithium, cobalt or nickel. In addition to the environmental footprint of mining, such as soil degradation or water shortages, there are also ethical issues.

The logistics and charging of electric scooters are also problematic, as they are often collected by vans to be recharged or deployed back onto the streets. For this reason, they paradoxically add more emissions in cities. In 2019, experts pointed out the environmental impact of these vehicles in relation to their lifespan and operation. They found that e-scooters have a higher impact on global warming than using a bus with a high number of passengers or a bicycle.

The modes of transport they replace must also be taken into account. A survey in Portland, Oregon, showed that if people did not have an e-scooter available, eight percent would not travel at all, 10 percent would use a car, 36 percent would walk and 45 percent would cycle. Replacing walking or public transport, especially for short distances, also has a negative impact on the environment. Similar results were also shown by another study , where up to 44 percent of people would walk if they did not have a shared scooter available.

So, when we take into account their production, lifespan and logistics associated with collection and charging, their carbon footprint may not be as favorable as it seems at first glance. Scooters have become a symbol of modern mobility, but they have also exposed the weaknesses of cities. Their future therefore depends on whether cities learn to integrate them into the transport system in a way that makes them an asset rather than a hindrance. Regulation at a European level also remains an issue.

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