Q. We live a good distance from my son’s school and are thinking about getting him an e-scooter to help with the trip. Are there special rules or laws we should consider first?
Dear Reader,
I would imagine this is a question on a lot of people’s minds at the moment. E-scooter seem to be everywhere, especially in the inner-city. The regulations around these vehicles are expected to be updated soon, but, for the moment at least, the lay of the land is as follows.
You must be at least 16 years old to use an e-scooter. You do not need a license at present to ride one, and your e-scooter does not need to be registered, taxed, or insured.
Your e-scooter, however, must meet technical requirements, including being of a maximum weight of 25 kilos (including batteries) or less and with a maximum speed of 20km/h or less – riders with scooters that have a higher high speed will find themselves in difficulty, and An Garda Síochána do have specialist equipment to check the top speed of e-scooters. Additionally, your e-scooter must be fitted with front and rear lights, reflectors, brakes, and a bell.
Quite important to note also, only one person can ride an e-scooter at a time.
In terms of where they can or can’t be ridden, e-scooters can be used on local, regional, and national roads. They cannot be used on motorways. However riders can use cycle and bus lanes.
Gardaí can confiscate e-scooters ridden by people under 16. It is also a requirement that the wheels have a diameter of at least 200mm and that the scooter does not have a seat. If they do not meet the above requirements, they can be taken off the road by Gardaí.
You must also make aure to: drive on the left side of the road, including in cycle and bus lanes; follow the rules of the road, especially when it comes to traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, and zebra crossings; and follow the signals given by a Garda or school warden
You must not: carry goods or passengers; use an e-scooter on footpaths, pedestrianized areas or on motorways; park in designated no-parking zones, such as loading bays, accessible parking areas, and charging bays; or use your mobile phone while driving.
E-scooters are not allowed on State-provided public transport, Luas, rail, or bus services (due to concerns with lithium batteries).
You can read more about e-scooters on citizensinformation.ie/en/travel-and-recreation/e-scooters-e-bikes-and-e-mopeds/e-scooters/.