A series of new regulations for electric scooters (e-scooters) in Athens will take effect soon, which include establishing low-speed and no-ride zones, as well as designated parking and drop-off areas.
The new municipal rules aim to enhance safety for both pedestrians and riders and restore order in public spaces, according to the Deputy Mayor for Urban Revitalization and Resilience, Maro Evangellidou.
Speaking to public broadcaster ERT, Evangellidou explained that the city has issued a regulatory decision that “reinstates and supplements the provisions of the Highway Code,” setting specific speed limits, introducing mandatory helmet use, and enforcing bans, such as prohibiting the use of electric scooters on pedestrian streets.
According to the new rules:
- The use of electric scooters is prohibited on sidewalks, pedestrian streets, parks, and green spaces.
- They are also banned on roads with a speed limit above 50 km/h, such as Syngrou Avenue, the National Highway, and Kifisos Avenue.
- In neighborhoods like Plaka and Psyrri, scooters are allowed but must move at walking speed.
- Additional pedestrian streets, including Ermou and Aiolou, are now explicitly included in the ban.
- In green areas like Lycabettus Hill, Strefi Hill, and the National Garden, scooters are not permitted.
The Pedion tou Areos park is not included in the new regulatory framework, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Region of Attica, Evangellidou clarified.
New Parking Rules and Enforcement
The City of Athens is establishing specific designated parking zones, where scooter companies will be required to place their vehicles each morning.
To encourage compliance, companies have also agreed to introduce a mechanism ensuring that users cannot stop being charged until they leave the scooter in an authorized parking area. As Evangellidou explained:
“If a user abandons the scooter in the middle of the street, they will continue to be charged as if they were still using it.”
Finally, the City of Athens is requiring companies to equip scooters with tracking chips and speed limiters, as mandated by law, to ensure proper monitoring and safety.
