With summer here again, the issue of e-scooter riding is back in the spotlight, “Aktuaalne kaamera” reported, though despite safety concerns, there have been no concrete moves to either require riders to hold a license or to follow Finland’s example in setting a minimum age for private e-scooter riding.
For the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), Viimsi, just outside Tallinn, is one example of a problem area, where minors have been repeatedly found riding scooters more powerful than allowed.
Current law in Estonia has it that 10- to 15-year-olds require a bicycle license when riding a bike, but this is not a requirement when it comes to scooters traveling up to 25 km/h, as these must be ridden on sidewalks.
While rental e-scooters operated by companies like Bolt and Tuul set a minimum age of 16 for using the service, children as young as ten can ride privately-owned e-scooters, also growing in number and often much more powerful than the rental variety.
Similarly, while cyclists of the same age are required to have a bike license, e-scooter riders are not, even as these vehicles’ top speeds often significantly exceed those of bikes.
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