Lawmakers debate ban on electric scooters amid safety concerns

A proposal to ban electric scooters outright was placed before the House transport committee on Thursday, following a recent series of fatal and serious accidents.

The bill was submitted by Dipa MP and committee chair Alekos Tryfonidis, who told colleagues that enforcement failures and persistent violations had turned scooters into a public safety risk.

“The aim is to solve the problem and not mourn any more victims,” he affirmed, adding that his proposal was intended to press both the government and local authorities to act decisively.

An alternative approach was presented by Ecologist leader, Stavros Papadouris, who opposed an outright ban and instead called for stricter regulation.

His proposal provides for the registration of electric scooters, the creation of a dedicated registry, licence plates to be issued and the power to confiscate scooters when used unlawfully.

“We support those who choose alternatives to car transport, but not at the expense of safety,” he said, warning that some scooters in circulation can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour, far above legal limits.

He confirmed that at least three fatal accidents involving scooters have been recorded.

Papadouris said he would reconsider a total ban only if an alternative framework ensured effective control over imports and compliance with technical standards.

“If someone orders a scooter from abroad, it arrives without checks,” he denounced, arguing that registration would address both accountability and enforcement deficiencies.

The transport ministry proposed tightening the existing framework, including raising the minimum age for use from 14 to 16, reducing maximum speeds to between 20 and 25 kilometres per hour, and allowing police to confiscate devices after offences.

As an alternative to a registry, the ministry suggested coloured stickers issued following insurance checks to enable immediate verification.

Limassol municipal representatives cautioned that a ban could push residents back to private cars.

Engineering groups and the commerce chamber (Keve) argued that prohibition would be excessive and would fail to address the root causes of unsafe behaviour.

Papadouris concluded that abolition was not his preferred outcome but insisted that decisive measures were unavoidable.

Tryfonidis said he would allow time for secondary proposals from the competent services to be made, stressing that public safety remained the overriding concern.