Norway caps number of electric scooters for rent in Oslo, bans them completely after 11 p.m.
Norway caps the number of electric scooters for rent in Oslo and bans them altogether after 11 p.m. – when users are more likely to be drunk – in a bid to reduce accidents
- The Norwegian capital Oslo has decided to cap the rental of electric scooters at 8,000
- There will also be a ban on renting scooters between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. in the city.
- It comes after medics warn of an increase in crashes involving electric scooters
Norway has capped the number of electric scooters for rent in Oslo and banned them completely after 11 p.m. – when users are more likely to be drunk – in a bid to reduce accidents.
Convenience for some, nuisance and potential danger for others, the rise of electric scooters has become a subject of division in many cities around the world.
The Norwegian capital has decided to cap the number of scooters available for hire, from more than 20,000 to 8,000 in September.
Additionally, starting in August, scooter rentals will be banned between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., when people are more likely to be drunk.
Norway has capped the number of electric scooters for rent in Oslo and banned them completely after 11 p.m. – when users are more likely to be drunk – in an effort to limit accidents (pictured, electric scooters in London)
Oslo has one of the highest scooter density rates in Europe, with 200 scooters per 10,000 inhabitants, compared to only 125 in Stockholm and less than 50 in Berlin.
“This has been an untenable situation for many years in our city, especially for the blind, visually impaired, wheelchair users and the elderly,” said city councilor Sirin Stav, who oversees the environment and people. transport, in a press release.
Norwegian doctors sounded the alarm last week when they saw an increase in the number of accidents involving electric scooters, with 856 injured in Oslo since the start of the year, of which 57% between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
They called for an overnight suspension, estimating it could prevent between 300 and 400 crashes in the summer alone.
“From the number of accidents, we see that there is a higher risk of serious injury when electric scooters are driven at night,” Stav said.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Angelina Sergeeva of Sunnaa Rehabilitation Hospital said VG about a third of electric scooter patients suffered a head injury and half were under the influence of alcohol.
The municipality will also establish requirements on where scooters can be used, he added.
Among the ten or so private operators active in Oslo, some are already restricting night rentals.
Many introduced weekend curfews after it was revealed that 30% of all weekend A&E patients were involved in scooter crashes.
Instead, Voi reduced top speed overnight and added a reaction test in its app to detect potentially drunk drivers.
The 8,000 scooter licenses must be distributed among the operators who submit the applications.
Scooters will also need to be dropped off and picked up in designated areas of the city, just like bicycles.
Oslo has one of the highest scooter density rates in Europe, with 200 scooters per 10,000 inhabitants, compared to only 125 in Stockholm and less than 50 in Berlin.
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