March 2024
MMfE welcomes the important work of OECD-ITF and the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) on micro-mobility safety. Thanks to combined efforts between the industry, cities and regulators, we see that shared micro-mobility is becoming safer as the casualty risk for shared e-scooters drops by 26% in Europe. Almost 80% of cyclist and e-scooter rider fatalities involve motor vehicles, which highlights the need for safe infrastructure for vulnerable road users as well as reducing speed limits for motorised vehicles.
MMfE members have already implemented many recommended measures, like speed caps, mandatory initial rider training or age verification where mandated by law. Also, the tendency of shared vehicles to become bigger and sturdier as recommended by the report, is starting to show positive results.
There is more to be done and MMfE and its members are committed to continue collaborating closely with all stakeholders towards Vision Zero. At the same time, increasing safety is a shared goal that requires action by all stakeholders beyond micro-mobility operators.
- Reducing overall speed limits for motorised traffic in urban areas
- Investment in safe infrastructure across the EU
- Supporting cities, for example with data, in proactively maintaining micro-mobility infrastructure
- Supporting cities in awareness raising and education campaigns
- Supporting law enforcement authorities for consequent and fair treatment of traffic rule violators on e-scooters, bikes and cars
Continuing to invest into reasonable and sustainable safety technology if proven effective
Our vision is a future where any ride of less than 5km can be made safely on a shared micro-mobility vehicle. In order for this to happen, we are collaborating with all other organisations representing Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) and sustainable urban mobility stakeholders to challenge the dominance of the car in our urban mobility.
