Rome approves new guidelines for e-scooter and e-bike sharing

The Rome City Council has approved new guidelines for the authorization of free-flow sharing services for electric scooters and e-bikes. These regulations pave the way for a new public tender to select operators, allowing up to three providers for scooters and up to three for e-bikes, with three-year authorizations.

The new rules incorporate recent national legislation, including mandatory helmet use for all riders regardless of age, vehicle registration plates, identification markings, and third-party liability insurance. To improve urban decorum and safety, vehicles may only be parked in designated stalls, and operators must remove vehicles left in unauthorized areas within six hours.

Additional measures include technical requirements such as sensors to prevent two people from riding a single scooter and a limit on vehicle age to 24 months. The guidelines also aim to integrate these services with public transport through unified pricing and ensure service density in various neighborhoods while implementing a strict sanctioning system that can include license revocation.