Local people use electric scooters on the streets of Brussels. Photographed by our reporter Zhang Pe

Local people use electric scooters on the streets of Brussels. Photographed by our reporter Zhang Penghui






In Belgium, electric scooters are increasingly becoming a new means of transportation. The latest data shows that more than 18000 electric scooters have been shared in Brussels, the capital. The use of electric scooters not only provides convenience for people, but also brings new challenges to traffic safety. Belgium recently issued a number of regulations to strengthen the supervision of electric scooters.






According to the new regulations recently issued by the Belgian government, since July 1, users of Belgian electric scooters and other equipment must be at least 16 years old. It is forbidden to ride in certain areas such as some sidewalks and use electric scooters to carry people. In Brussels, where electric scooters are used intensively, it is also required to park them in designated areas and set the maximum speed limit for special sections such as semi-pedestrian areas. According to local media reports, the new regulations treat electric scooters as bicycles to a large extent, and restrict and regulate the use of electric scooters to ensure traffic safety, so as to promote the orderly development of this emerging market of vehicles.






Electric scooters are very popular in Belgium, especially among young people. Local users use online maps to search for routes, and electric scooters will appear as a separate recommendation. In Brussels, Ghent and other cities, many people think that using electric scooters saves time and effort, and stops as you go. Especially in the rush hours, electric scooters use bicycle lanes or sidewalks, which can avoid the traffic congestion in the motorway, so they are popular.






The electric scooter has the characteristics of fast moving speed. Generally, users have not received special safety training, and there are certain potential safety hazards. Reporters have seen many times that some young people on the street ride the same electric scooter, and some riders also play with each other, which has certain traffic hazards. According to the statistics of the Belgian Federal Police, in 2021, there were 533 injuries involving electric scooters in the Flanders region alone, with an average of about 10 per week. In addition, shared electric scooters are placed everywhere, which is not conducive to equipment maintenance and also affects the image of the city.






Bart Dongte, a member of the Brussels Transport Commission, said that the increase in the number of electric scooters and the non-standard use of them have brought inconvenience to other pedestrians. The new regulations have made regulations requiring that the moving speed of electric scooters in the pedestrian zone should not exceed 8 kilometers per hour to ensure pedestrian safety.






At the same time, the new regulations limit the number of equipment put on by operators of shared electric scooters, and set up special parking areas to reduce random parking. Electric scooter operators are also considering putting forward more requirements for users, such as not allowing electric scooters to run side by side, not blocking the road, and encouraging the wearing of safety helmets. In order to avoid "drunk driving", the sharing electric scooter company Bolt has asked users in Brussels to pass the "fast cognitive test" on their mobile phones when scanning the code from 19 to 5 am the next day to ensure that users are in good mental state.






Chris Peters, a transportation expert at the PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Belgium, believes that the emergence of electric scooters as a means of transportation has enriched people's travel modes, and it is expected that the number of use will continue to increase in the future. However, the electric scooter has a narrow steering wheel, small wheels, fast speed, and high accident rate of some models. In the future, the regulatory authorities and operators need to work together to issue specific and feasible rules, continue to improve relevant regulations, and achieve a balance between the promotion of electric scooters and safety regulations.






(From Brussels, our newspaper)






People's Daily (17th edition, August 5, 2022)