New Laws For Scooter Rentals In Rome You Should Know

Changes are coming to Rome’s streets and sidewalks as a new law has been passed that puts more limitations and requirements on Scooter rental in Rome.

In the summer of 2024, the Italian senate passed a broad reaching transportation bill in March that includes some new restrictions on e-Scooters in Rome. The Parliament also took up the bill and passed it into law. 

Personally, this is a welcome change as someone who regularly walks around the historical center of Rome. The obstacle course these scooters represent can be a challenge for me, but for people with mobility issues or people with strollers, these scooters make it nearly impossible to get around.

Scooter Rental Services In Cities Like Rome

I am someone who frequently walks around the historical center of Rome and because of this I have pretty strong views on the impact of scooter rental services. I know these rental services are important additions to the city, and I don’t want to be negative for the sake of being negative, but the fact is that I’m not a big fan of these e-scooters.

They are basically an obstacle course for those of us who walk down the sidewalk and even worse for those with mobility issues or are pushing a stroller. In Rome, the rules are often ignored by tourists and young people, and the police only occasionally enforce them. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen a police officer remind a rider that there can only be one on the scooter at a time.

My preference would be something  like the bike rentals that have an organized rack from which to rent and return when done. This is better aesthetically, but I realize it isn’t practical for the way that e-scooters are used. 

What New Requirements Impact E-Scooter Rental In Rome?

Rules, regulations and requirements are an interesting phenomenon in Italy as they can be casually enforced, like the current laws regarding scooters, so we’ll have to see how it goes.

This new law requires helmets, license plates and insurance for e-scooters and their riders, as well as limiting their speed and banning them from cycle lanes and sidewalks.

This last part, the ban on riding on sidewalks, is the one I’m most interested to see how it is enforced. Overnight, the scooters are serviced and lined up on the sidewalk and even though there is a note on the Lime scooters that indicates it is forbidden to ride on the sidewalk, it is rarely followed and even more rarely enforced.

Does Rome Have Scooters To Rent?

In the past there have been a few different vendors that provide e-Scooters, but it seems like the business model is difficult to sustain. Today, the most common e-scooter you will encounter littered all over the sidewalks in Rome is Lime. Lime charges a fixed cost to unlock each vehicle and a per-minute rate when you ride. Rates may vary across different locations and times of day.

As a reaction to the danger and displeasure with these e-Scooters, the number of electric rental scooters on the streets of Rome dropped in 2023 from 14,500 to 9,000 as part of a major overhaul of the sector in the Italian capital. Under the new rules the number of scooter rental companies active in Rome had been cut from nine to three – Bird, Dott and Lime. The three companies can operate 3,000 vehicles each, meaning there will be around 5,000 fewer e-scooters whizzing around Rome, with a much reduced number in the city center.

How Dangerous Are e-Scooters In Rome?

Here are the 2023 Statistics for road accidents from ISTAT:

The number of victims increased in 2023 for scooter, bicycle and electric bicycle drivers, while pedestrians remained stable and other users decreased. There were 1,332 victims among car occupants (-3.1%), 734 among motorcyclists (-6.0%), 68 among moped drivers (-2.9%), 485 among pedestrians (0.0%). Among truck occupants, 112 deaths were recorded (-32.5%), while for bicycles and electric bicycles, the victims were 212, an increase compared to 2022 when they were 205 (+3.4%). The number of injuries among electric scooter users is also increasing (counted from 2020): road accidents involving them have increased from 2,929 in 2022 to 3,365 in 2023, the number of injured has increased from 2,787 to 3,195, while the number of deaths (within 30 days) is 21 (in 2022 it was 16).

Do You Need A License To Rent A Scooter In Rome?

No, because these are electric motors, no driver’s license is required. Some operators have a minimum age limit, either 14 or 18, but without a license I don’t see how that can be enforced.

Is Rome Safe for e-Scooter Rental?

You can look at the statistics cited above and make your own decision, but in my opinion: no, it is not very safe to ride an e-Scooter in Rome. This, I believe, is one of the major reasons riders break the law and ride on the sidewalks exacerbating the problem. 

Given the traffic, road conditions, driver’s temperament, buses and cobblestones, I don’t think I will ever rent one, no matter how convenient. I agree they look fun, but I’ve heard enough horror stories to know that walking, taking buses and riding subways are right for me.

More Information For Getting Around Rome