Lviv has changed the rules for electric scooters: where parking is prohibited
3 July 05:40
New parking rules for rental electric scooters have gone into effect in Lviv. In the city’s historic center and within the third parking zone, riders can now only end their trips at designated locations. This was announced by the Lviv City Council, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The new rules have been introduced on a trial basis for two months.
What has changed for electric scooter users
Previously, in many places, a rental scooter could be left after the end of a ride without being tied to a specific parking spot.
Starting July 1, a different procedure is in effect in parts of Lviv:
- you can only end your rental within a designated zone;
- the operator’s mobile app will show permitted locations;
- leaving a scooter outside a designated area may incur an additional fee of 100 UAH;
- unrestricted parking on sidewalks and in other unspecified locations is restricted;
- these rules apply specifically to rental electric scooters.
The main goal of this new measure is to remove haphazardly parked scooters from sidewalks and ensure unobstructed passage for pedestrians, people with disabilities, and parents with strollers.
Where the new restrictions apply
The new regulations have been implemented:
- in the historic center of Lviv;
- within the third parking zone;
- in areas adjacent to the city center.
The third zone covers a significant portion of the central and adjacent neighborhoods. Its boundaries run along, among others, Student Street, Mechnikov Street, Bohdan Khmelnytsky Street, Kleparivska Street, Horodotska Street, Heroes of the UPA Street, Stepan Bandera Street, Sakharov Street, Vitovsky Street, Franko Street, and a number of other streets.
You can check whether you are in a restricted zone directly within the car-sharing app.
How to Find a Permitted Parking Spot
Before ending a trip, the user must open the map in the operator’s mobile app.
The map should show:
- permitted parking areas;
- zones where it is not possible to end the rental;
- areas with speed limits;
- areas where additional rules apply.
The city council recommends checking for the nearest parking lot in advance, rather than looking for one after arriving at your final destination.
Due to the new rules, you may sometimes have to walk several dozen or several hundred meters from your parking spot to your destination.
A fine of 100 UAH will be charged for improper parking
If a user leaves a rental scooter in a prohibited location, the operator may charge an additional fee of 100 UAH.
This is not a fine from the police or city authorities, but a penalty stipulated by the rental service’s terms of use.
The charge may be deducted from the bank card linked to the user’s account.
Before ending your ride, make sure that:
- The scooter is within the permitted zone.
- It is not blocking the sidewalk.
- There is enough space nearby for people to pass.
- The scooter is not blocking the entrance to a building or establishment.
- The app has confirmed that the rental has ended.
The operator may also ask the user to take a photo of the parked scooter.
This is not a fine from city authorities
In some posts, the additional 100 UAH is referred to as a fine. However, legally speaking, this is a charge imposed by the rental operator in accordance with the terms of service.
The city council does not issue a citation for an administrative offense, and the police do not collect these funds.
The operator may apply the surcharge if the system detects that the trip ended outside a permitted parking area.
Therefore, users should review the updated terms of service for a specific provider before beginning a rental.
The rules will be in effect on a trial basis
The new procedure has been introduced for a two-month period.
After the trial period, city officials plan to assess:
- how many users are following the rules;
- whether there are enough designated parking spots;
- whether sidewalks have become less congested;
- how many complaints have been received from residents;
- where additional spaces need to be created;
- whether the restricted areas should be expanded.
According to Orest Oleskiv, deputy director of the Lviv City Council’s Department of Urban Mobility and Street Infrastructure, the boundaries of the zones and the number of parking spaces may change depending on the results of the pilot program.
How the scooter locations were selected
Parking areas were selected with consideration for access to public spaces, residential neighborhoods, and transportation infrastructure.
At the same time, they must not:
- block pedestrian traffic;
- narrow the sidewalk;
- block ramps;
- obstruct people in wheelchairs;
- create obstacles near bus stops;
- block building entrances;
- impeding the work of emergency services.
Special attention was paid to the historic center, where narrow sidewalks and heavy tourist traffic make chaotic parking particularly problematic.
79 locations have already been set up in Lviv
As part of the city’s collaboration with rental companies, 79 official locations for the placement and parking of electric scooters have been designated in Lviv.
City officials note that these sites were established gradually as part of a memorandum with the operators.
The number of locations may be increased in the future, especially if the trial period shows that the current sites are insufficient.
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What is the speed limit in Lviv?
Technical speed limits are already in place for rental electric scooters in Lviv.
The maximum speed is:
- up to 20 km/h in most areas;
- up to 15 km/h in parks, pedestrian zones, and designated hazardous areas.
The speed of rental scooters may be automatically reduced via geolocation when a user enters the corresponding zone.
These rules were established in a memorandum between the Lviv City Council and the rental operators.
What Changes Are Planned Next
City officials have also announced stricter requirements for electric scooter users.
Among the proposed measures are:
- verifying users’ ages;
- rental access only for those 16 and older;
- mandatory helmet use;
- additional zones with a speed limit of up to 15 km/h;
- increased monitoring of hazardous areas;
- changes to city beautification regulations.
However, these measures should be distinguished from the parking regulations already in effect since July 1. Some of the requirements still require separate regulatory and technical implementation.
Can you rent a scooter if you’re under 16?
City authorities propose implementing full age verification to ensure that rentals are available only to individuals aged 16 and older.
To do this, operators must technically configure user verification within their apps.
Until the relevant system is fully operational across all services, parents should ensure that their children do not operate rental electric scooters on their own.
Giving a child a phone with a rental account active poses a risk of injury and may violate the service’s terms of use.
Will Helmets Become Mandatory?
The Lviv City Council plans to mandate the use of protective helmets while riding.
To do this, the city must amend its public order regulations and establish a mechanism for enforcing the requirement.
Until these changes are finalized, wearing a helmet remains an important safety recommendation.
It is especially necessary when riding:
- near the roadway;
- on uneven surfaces;
- when going downhill;
- at night;
- on wet roads.
Why Lviv Is Tightening the Rules
City officials cite the high number of injuries and complaints about scooters left haphazardly as the reason for the changes.
They often create obstacles:
- on narrow sidewalks;
- near building entrances;
- near bus stops;
- on ramps;
- on tactile paving;
- in pedestrian zones.
Lviv has also appealed to the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada to establish clearer regulations governing the use of personal electric vehicles at the national level.
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