If lightweight scooters, powered by battery and rented by app, have seemed an inevitable wave across cities in Europe and the U.S., the second wave appears to be a rolling series of bans and restrictions by cities fed up with too many, too fast and too careless.
Now it’s Copenhagen’s turn, and the city has banned them from being rented in the city center and adjacent neighborhoods, and from being parked in most of those areas. Municipal Councillor Rune Dybvad told local TV that “Unfortunately, we have encountered major problems with these electric scooters… It is extremely difficult for seniors to get around when they are left lying about.”
Other complaints include their speed in bicycle lanes, and riders zipping between pedestrians and cars and also leaving scooters poorly parked or just dumped when they are finished. Also, last summer, in one weekend, police issued tickets to 28 riders who were drunk or stoned.
