Prague 1 Pushes for E-Scooter Ban in Downtown: A Safety Urgency
Prague 1 has formally requested a total prohibition on shared electric scooters in specific areas of the city center, citing concerns about safety and the ongoing inappropriate use of public spaces.
This week, the district council issued the request, calling for the capital to create a regulation that would empower individual districts to establish restricted zones where e-scooter riding and parking would be prohibited.
The suggested ban would be implemented using a mix of visible signs and geofencing technologies, and Prague 1 is insisting on cooperative enforcement by both municipal and state law enforcement agencies.
“We confront disorganized scooter parking and unlawful riding on sidewalks every single day,” stated Vojtěch Ryvola, who serves as Prague 1’s transport councilor. “This directly endangers pedestrians. The current situation is intolerable. We are prepared to protect public spaces and ensure the safety of our residents.”
Ryvola likened the e-scooter dilemma to the city’s Segway ban from 2016, which required a modification of national laws and cost approximately CZK 4 million to implement, which encompassed the installation of over 600 signs. He believes that scooters are a similarly disruptive element within Prague’s historical center.
According to existing Czech laws, electric scooters are categorized as bicycles, which prohibits their use on sidewalks but permits them on roads. Nonetheless, Ryvola and other representatives from Prague 1 contend that this legal designation falls short and that the proposed ban ought to expand to include roadways as well.
However, not all city officials agree with this approach. Deputy Mayor for Transport Zdeněk Hřib criticized the Prague 1 initiative as a limited and confusing solution. “This doesn’t tackle the underlying issue,” Hřib remarked, referring to a different solution offered by the city’s Technical Road Administration (TSK), which suggests entering into contractual agreements with scooter operators.
The TSK proposal aims to manage where and how shared scooters and bikes can operate, implement fines for rule violations, and charge fees for occupying public spaces. Nevertheless, Prague 1 has dismissed this proposal, arguing it does not grant districts the necessary authority to enforce a complete ban.
Public dissatisfaction with shared scooters has been escalating, especially in central districts. Common grievances include dangerous riding, blocking parking areas, and a lack of financial benefits from the usage of public spaces.
Šnejdarová pointed out that Prague 1 has been urging for action since early 2023. “Despite numerous calls for action, the city has not yet provided a tangible solution,” she said.
If discussions with the city were to fail, Ryvola mentioned that the district might contemplate conducting a local referendum to determine whether to implement a complete ban on e-scooters throughout all of Prague 1.
