Dubai bans e-scooters, e-bikes in JBR
The use of e-scooters and e-bikes in the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) community has been banned to improve the safety of residents and visitors.
Battery-operated mobility devices are facing limitations on the ground and plaza levels of The Walk. Prominent signs in Arabic and English, depicting crossed-out images of e-bikes and e-scooters, have been placed in the vicinity.
The lively tourist hub and welcoming community of JBR has limited the usage of e-scooters on the ground and plaza areas of The Walk. This action is intended to guarantee the well-being of residents and visitors, avoid accidents, and uphold the area's pedestrian-friendly ambiance,” stated Dubai Community Management.
Move bravely
The ban was welcomed by locals and regular visitors to the tourist destination.
New shops and restaurants have popped up in the area, taking up a large portion of the walkway and causing it to narrow to just a few meters in certain spots. With this recent prohibition (on e-scooters), I am able to restore my tranquility when strolling.
Demands for more stringent measures
Dubai residents have been expressing worries and demanding tighter regulations for e-scooter users in order to guarantee public safety.
Earlier, Jordanian expatriate Mohammed Abunael talked about witnessing individuals riding e-scooters without appropriate safety equipment and engaging in irresponsible riding. He expressed that he is constantly anxious about being struck by a rider of an electric scooter, making it a nightmare for him. Their behavior while riding is uncertain, and some riders are very careless.
Since March 1 of this year, the Metro has prohibited e-scooters, as stated by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). In a recent communication with Khaleej Times, RTA stated that they have banned the transportation of battery-operated e-scooters and micro-mobility devices on Dubai metro and Dubai tram due to the risk of fire. The prohibition will remain in place until a later announcement after safety regulations have been evaluated.
Electric scooters and bicycles with batteries are not allowed in the designated luggage space on Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram.
Automaton designed to identify infractions
In March, the RTA, in partnership with Dubai Police, tried an AI robot that can identify infractions by bike and e-scooter riders at Jumeirah 3 beach.
The robot was utilized to detect various infractions such as not following safety measures like wearing helmets, parking scooters in unauthorized spots, having more than one person on e-scooters, and using them in areas designated for pedestrians only. Erring riders have not yet received any fines, but they could be fined up to Dh300 for their violations.
Is it necessary for e-scooters to have license plates?
Road safety specialists have proposed implementing a license plate or distinct identification for e-scooters. At the moment, registration is not mandatory for e-scooters, but riders must have a permit from the RTA.
Registering e-scooters aims to inform people that they are not playthings but rather official vehicles on the road. Thomas Edelmann, the founder and managing director of RoadSafetyUAE, hopes that this will lead to more thoughtful and secure riding.
There is currently no new data available regarding the quantity of e-scooters throughout Dubai. Nevertheless, according to data published by RTA in November of the previous year, over 63,500 e-scooter licenses were issued by the authority after it became mandatory in April 2022.
Individuals must be at least 16 years old to use e-scooters; they can obtain permits by finishing training and awareness classes found on the RTA website. Nonetheless, those who have valid driver's permits are exempt from these classes, while those under 15 are limited to using manual scooters and bicycles.
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