Have fun but be mindful of the rules!

Have fun but be mindful of the rules! How and where to ride a scooter, a skateboard or roller skates.

On May 20th, 2021, an amendment to the Road Traffic Law came into force in Poland; for the first time in history regulating the legal status of devices that are powered by electricity and devices powered by muscles, that have been designed to move on public roads.

If you are puzzled and confused by the above, hang in there, we are about to explain everything you need to know, regardless whether you are moving around on a bike, on foot or on a scooter.

"Devices": now newly defined

An clectric scooter has been defined as a 2- axle vehicle that is powered by electricity, with a steering wheel, without a seat or pedals, structurally intended to be moved only by the driver of the vehicle.

A personal transport device is any vehicle powered by electricity (with the exception of an electric scooter), without a seat and pedals, structurally designed to be moved only by a driver of the vehicle (e.g. an electric skateboard, an electric self- leveling device).

You might be thinking: ok, but how does it affect me? Nothing new other than funny sounding legal term, right? Wrong! Read up! New rules actually means more safety for everyone involved and you already know that we are all about safety!

Motion- assisting devices - with a fitting acronym: MAD… cause you have to be MAD to not obey the law while riding them :)

While on a sidewalk and/or on the pedestrian path, the speed of a MAD should be adjusted to the speed of a pedestrian. A MAD user should give way to the pedestrian and not obstruct the pedestrian's normal movement. Right-hand traffic is in use on all bike paths. When crossing the road, you can use a crossing for bikes or a pedestrian crossing.

Limitations: the use of any MAD, e.g. roller skating, does not impose any age restrictions and does not require any special qualifications.

Roads on which you can travel by a MAD:

• a sidewalk

• a designated pedestrian road

• a bike path

When using a MAD, you must keep in mind the following:

• move at a speed that ensures control over the device, considering all conditions in which the movement is taking place

• keep a safe distance from the passed and bypassed vehicles, traffic participants or any other obstacles

• make sure you have enough space to complete the maneuver before overtaking without obstructing anyone's movement

• exercise extreme caution when approaching a pedestrian crossing and give way to pedestrians on the crossing

When using a MAD, you are not allowed to:

• move while under influence of alcohol or drugs

• transport another person, an animal or cargo

• haul a vehicle or cargo

• cling to other vehicles

• move backwards

E-scooters

When driving an e-scooter, you should use a bike path or bike lane, and you should give way to pedestrians on a bicycle and on a pedestrian path.

Limitations: driving an electric scooter requires permissions and they might be the following: a bike license/ permit (remember those?) in the case of underage individuals, a driving license of the following categories: AM, A1, B1 or T - for individuals younger than 18 years old. Kiddos younger than 10 are not allowed (they'd better not be!) to drive an electric scooter or a personal transport device on a road, with the exception being: within a residential area under the supervision of an adult.

Roads that can be used to travel on with the use of an electric scooter:

• a bike lane or a bike path - if they are designated for the direction in which it will be moving or intends to turn

• a road on which vehicle traffic is allowed at a speed of no more than 30 km/h, and where there is no separate bike path or lane- at a speed greater than 30 km/h and if there is no separate bike path/ lane

• a sidewalk or a designated pedestrian way; exceptionally when the sidewalk is situated along the road, on which the speed of other vehicles is permitted up to 30km/h and where there is no separate bike path/ lane

Individuals braking on an e- scooter must not:

• exceed the speed of 20 km/h

• haul and tow another vehicle

• transport another person, an animal or cargo

Devices for personal transport

When driving a so- called device for personal transport (no cute acronym here, sorry!) e.g. using an electric skateboard, you should use a bike path, and when using a bike and pedestrian path, you should give way to pedestrians.

Limitations: just like in the case of electric scooters, driving "a device for personal transport", for instance an electric skateboard, requires qualifications such as a bicycle permit/ license for those underage or a driving license of the following categories AM, A1, B1 or T. Kids under the age of 10 are not allowed to drive (clearly!) "a personal transport device", with the exception residential area and when accompanied by an adult.

Roads that can be used when driving a "personal transport device":

• a bike lane: if it is designated for the direction in which it will be moving or intends to turn

• a sidewalk and/or a designated pedestrian path: allowed but only when when there is no separate bike path

When driving "a personal transport device" you must not:

• move faster than 20 km/h

• haul or tow another vehicle

• transport another person, animal or cargo

• cling to other vehicles

Parking your scooter

No more abandoned scooters on the sidewalks! Yay to that!

The Act introduces the obligation to leave e.g. an electric scooter on the sidewalk in a designated place only. If there is no such space, when parking, pay attention to the following:

• whether your electric scooter is positioned as close as possible to the outer edge of the sidewalk, as far away from the road as possible

• whether the electric scooter is positioned parallel to the edge of the sidewalk

• whether the width of the sidewalk left for pedestrians is such that it will not hinder their traffic and is not less than 1.5 m

No more lawlessness: no more annoying mess! Less accidents!

Electric scooters or "personal transport devices" may be removed from the road at the expense of the owner, for instance in the case of leaving them in a place where it is not allowed and/ or when it obstructs movement and/or or might threaten safety of others. Both the police and city patrol may have the vehicle removed.

Now you know how moving around on an electric scooter differs from a traditional one, what rules and regulations you must keep in mind while rollerskating or when riding an electric skateboard. Hopefully we have kept you safe… from accidents and fines!

Safe travels & have fun!