Bucharest's Sector 1 bans electric scooters in parks, fines up to 5,000 lei

Starting Friday, 7 August, the Municipality of Sector 1 in Bucharest prohibited the use of electric scooters in all parks it administers. Violators face fines of up to 5,000 lei. The measure was introduced after a series of accidents, including a recent incident in Parcul IOR where an elderly person was struck and required medical care.

Local residents and civic groups have also called for similar bans in other districts, notably Sector 3, where a petition backed by the Declic Association seeks to bar scooters and motor‑bikes from park pathways. Road‑safety expert Valentin Ciobanu warned that scooters, especially rental models, can cause severe injuries to pedestrians because of their small size and high impact force at modest speeds. The ban aims to protect pedestrians, particularly children and seniors, until dedicated scooter lanes become widely available.