Starting next week, the Latvian company Ride Mobility will begin offering a moped rental service in Tallinn. While the city welcomes new mobility solutions, it also recognizes potential risks in urban spaces, making it necessary to establish clear regulations for the service.
Deputy Mayor for Transport, Kristjan Järvan, explained that since this is a new type of vehicle in Tallinn’s urban environment, it is essential to ensure safe integration without creating additional hazards for road users. “We do not impose barriers on new service providers, but we expect responsible operations and compliance with previously agreed rules,” Järvan emphasized. “As the number of market participants grows, Tallinn will formalize existing agreements into official regulations to ensure that all new and existing service providers understand the rules consistently. It is important to note that, under the law, these regulations apply only to rental vehicles, and the city cannot regulate private vehicles in the same way.”
One of the city’s main concerns is the potential use of mopeds on sidewalks, which is strictly prohibited under traffic law. Service providers must ensure that users are aware of the ban on riding on sidewalks.
Another key issue is that the current traffic law does not grant local governments the authority to set limits on the number of rentable light vehicles, mopeds, bicycles, and motor vehicles. This leads to a situation where the number of rental vehicles exceeds the capacity of parking infrastructure, especially in the city center, where demand for the service is highest. Additionally, insurance requirements and helmet regulations for mopeds need to be clarified—currently, helmets are mandatory for riders under 16 years of age.
According to traffic law, mopeds can be operated from the age of 14, may carry only one rider at a time, and have a maximum speed of 25 km/h. The service provider may impose additional restrictions, for example, if they choose not to verify the presence of a bicycle license or ensure helmet use. Under the current plan, the moped rental service in Tallinn would be available only to users aged 18 and above. Parking rules are similar to those for light vehicles and bicycles, but mopeds may not be ridden into parking spaces located on sidewalks—they must be pushed by hand.
Tallinn will continue working with the state and service providers to improve traffic safety and address the space limitations caused by the high concentration of light vehicles in the city center.
Source: tallinn.ee