Legal limbo of e-scooters set to end with new legislation

THE Government approved legislation yesterday to allow e-scooters and e-bikes on Irish roads for the first time. The new Road Traffic Bill will next go to the Oireachtas before it can be passed into law.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said: ‘We committed in the Programme for Government to resolving legal barriers to the use of e-scooters, as well as e-bikes, and this Bill will deliver on both of those commitments.’

The legislation will include e-scooters in a new class of powered personal transporters. Support for the announcement has poured in from across the transportation industry.

Niall Carson, general manager for the ride-hailing app Free Now Ireland, gave his backing, saying: ‘We commend this announcement and consider it to be a significant step in developing a more sustainable and inter-connected transport network across Ireland.’

‘We know the huge benefits they bring’

Free Now’s research has showed that 40% of customers intend to use e-scooters every day once the legislation is passed.

E-scooter operator Zipp Mobility plans to launch in several cities including Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.

‘Zipp was founded with the objective of bringing sustainable scooter-sharing services to Ireland and we are delighted that we are one step closer to doing this,’ said Charlie Gleeson, the firm’s CEO and founder.

Swedish urban mobility company Voi also welcomed the news.

‘Ireland is one of the few European countries yet to develop micromobility options like e-scooters and e-bikes,’ said Richard Corbett, Voi’s vice president of market operations.

He added: ‘We know the huge benefits their development can bring: fewer car journeys, less congestion, cleaner air and better functioning towns and cities.’