0
0
VIENNA, Sept. 29 – Vienna authorities and police will step up enforcement of new regulations for electric mopeds starting Thursday, as Austria introduces stricter requirements for the use of the increasingly popular vehicles.
The City of Vienna announced that, from Oct. 1, police and the municipal Immediate Measures Group will conduct targeted inspections to ensure compliance with the new rules governing moped-style electric vehicles.
Under the revised regulations, e-mopeds will no longer be allowed to use bicycle lanes. Operators must also ensure their vehicles have road registration, a license plate and insurance coverage. Riders will be required to hold a valid driver’s licence and wear a helmet.
City officials said Vienna had long advocated banning e-mopeds from cycling infrastructure because of safety concerns.
Vienna Police President Gerhard Pürstl said authorities would take action against riders who fail to meet the legal requirements. In such cases, police may prohibit further travel and issue formal complaints.
The size of any penalty will depend on the nature of the violation and the circumstances of each individual case, according to authorities.
Walter Hillerer, head of Vienna’s Immediate Measures Group, said inspections would focus on whether riders continue to use bicycle lanes as alternative routes despite the new restrictions.
Vienna Transport Councillor Ulli Sima welcomed the changes, arguing that many e-mopeds travel at excessive speeds and, because of their weight, pose risks to cyclists and pedestrians.
E-mopeds are widely used by food delivery workers in the Austrian capital, meaning the new requirements could have significant implications for many riders who rely on the vehicles for their jobs.
The Austrian Automobile, Motorcycle and Touring Club (ÖAMTC) has previously warned that many owners may face difficulties meeting the new requirements. According to the motoring association, practical options for obtaining registration and approval in time may be limited in a number of cases.
For owners who can no longer use affected vehicles, the City of Vienna said e-mopeds can be disposed of free of charge at the city’s waste collection centres.
- source: APA/picture: Image by Christine Sponchia from Pixabay
This post has already been read 1499 times!
