São Paulo electric vehicle traffic regulations

To address a tenfold increase in electric bicycle and scooter use, the São Paulo City Hall issued an ordinance establishing new speed limits and circulation rules. Data from the NGO Ciclocidade and the Traffic Engineering Company (CET) indicates that while traditional bicycle trips fell by approximately 7.5%, motorized and self-propelled vehicle trips rose from 703 to 7,268 over a three-year period.

The regulations, which took effect on August 28, set a maximum speed of 20 km/h for electric bicycles and scooters in bike lanes and cycle paths. In areas shared with pedestrians, such as sidewalks, the limit is reduced to 6 km/h. On roads without dedicated infrastructure, electric bicycles may ride along the edge of streets with regulated speeds up to 50 km/h, while scooters are restricted to streets with limits up to 40 km/h.

To distinguish vehicle types, electric bicycles are defined as having a motor of up to 1 kW that provides assistance only while pedaling. Vehicles exceeding these specifications are classified as mopeds, which require registration, licensing, and a driver’s license.

Although the rules are active, the Municipal Secretariat of Mobility and Traffic (SMT) has postponed formal enforcement and the application of fines until October 12. During this transition, the CET is conducting educational campaigns and has installed mobile speed indicators to inform users of their speeds. Meanwhile, the city has adjusted its infrastructure projections, now expecting to reach approximately 750 kilometers of cycling infrastructure by the end of 2028, down from an original goal of 1,000 kilometers by 2024.