Brno Considers Ban on Electric Scooters in City Centre

Brno councilors have approved a request for a ban on the entry of electric scooters and unicycles into the pedestrian zone in the city centre.

They expect to finalize the ban by the end of the year. Bolt, one of the companies operating the scooters, has suggested alternative measures such as speed limits to address safety issues.

“The council approved the proposal unanimously, and we anticipate it could be implemented by the end of the year,” stated Deputy Mayor Machů.

“The ban would cover key pedestrian areas like Svobody Square, Masaryk Street, Česká Street, and nearby locations. We believe these vehicles do not belong in these areas, and our decision is based on regulations already adopted in other cities.”

He pointed out that cities like Madrid have announced plans to remove electric scooters from streets by the end of October.

Deputy Mayor Machů added that the last discussion with representatives of scooter-sharing companies took place during the summer holidays last year, and since then, there has been no noticeable improvement in the situation.

Data from Bolt indicates that the city center of Brno is the most popular destination for scooter users. “Banning shared scooters doesn’t make sense. Instead, we should encourage constructive dialogue between city officials and micromobility operators,” argued Peter Mesarč, Director General for Micromobility in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. “Our suggestions include speed reductions in specific areas or at certain times of the day.”

Electric scooters are also widely used by food delivery couriers, such as those working with Wolt. “Scooters, like bicycles, offer easy access to restaurants in hard-to-reach locations, so banning them could negatively impact some businesses. It might also increase the time needed to deliver food to customers, although the exact effect is still unclear,” commented Jana Jarošová, a spokesperson for Wolt.

Ostrava banned electric scooters in the city centre two years ago and the measure has won praise from both officers and pedestrians. A similar ban is being considered by the authorities of Prague 1.

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