Two e-scooter riders have died in traffic collisions in Cyprus this year, matching the total number of such deaths recorded between 2021 and 2025, as authorities continue searching for solutions to the risks posed by the devices.
Both victims this year were foreign nationals, and both collisions took place in Limassol. More than 40 scooter riders have been injured.
The most recent death came two days ago, when a 24-year-old Syrian man died after being struck by a vehicle on July 26. It was the second such death in seven months, underlining the danger of vehicles and e-scooters sharing the road.
Police have already proposed taking e-scooters off the roads and onto pavements where available, with special markings for the devices in areas with enough space.
Drivers complain that scooter riders move dangerously, creating a visible risk of collisions, while enforcement remains minimal because neither municipalities nor traffic police have the manpower to monitor e-scooter use.
Parliament passed legislation giving police and municipalities the power to confiscate scooters when riders break the law, contingent on a ministerial decree. More than three months on, that decree still has not been issued.
Under the legislation, police and municipal officers will be able to confiscate a scooter, in addition to imposing a fine, when a rider exceeds the permitted speed or rides in a prohibited area. Gaps still being studied by the Department of Public Works concern where the devices can be used and whether they will carry identifying markings.
Proposed changes under discussion would give each personal mobility device a registration number, similar to a vehicle number plate, to allow identification in the event of a collision or violation. The Road Transport Department would register the e-scooters. Insurance remains an open question, with cases in which pedestrians struck by scooters found there was no insurance cover.
On April 16, Parliament voted by majority in favour of significant changes to e-scooter use, rejecting a proposal for a full ban until decisions are made on where the devices can operate. The most significant change concerns the minimum age for riders and passengers.
Under the new rules, only people aged 17 and over may ride e-scooters, up from 14 previously. They may also carry a passenger aged 17 or over, up from 12 previously.
25km/h speed limit
The right to confiscate scooters for serious violations remains subject to the still-unissued ministerial decree from the Transport Minister. A further change raised the maximum permitted speed for the devices from 20km/h to 25km/h.
A fourth amendment concerns technical specifications, requiring sellers to provide a declaration of conformity with CE marking and compliance with the European standard CYS EN 17128:2020. A separate rule now makes owners responsible for safely storing their e-scooters to prevent unauthorised use, as is already the case with vehicles.
Specifically, a fixed penalty applies to an owner, or any person legally responsible for managing or storing a personal mobility device, who fails to take the necessary measures to prevent its use by someone under 17, whether as rider or passenger.
