Bulgaria: New Rules for Electric Scooters in Sofia - Fines up to 25 EUR

New rules, restrictions and sanctions for the use of scooters and electric scooters in Sofia are proposed in amendments to the "Ordinance on the organization of traffic on the territory of the Capital Municipality". They will be submitted by the chairman of the Metropolitan Municipal Council, Georgi Georgiev, and published for public discussion.

"Sofia is a large and modern city and the rapid increase in the number of scooters is logical and expected. They are an important factor in reducing air pollution, carbon emissions and traffic congestion. There are already over 10,000 electric scooters in the capital, of which around 2,000 are rented out by the 3 operators," he said.

He said there have been a number of scooter accidents over the past two years, from self-ignition as a result of charging, through accidents with pedestrians and cars to footage of people driving at unreasonably high speeds between cars.

"There are also continuous complaints about improperly parked electric scooters. Within two years, the Ministry of the Interior has registered 1,604 violations," he added.

It is because of this, according to Georgiev, that the introduction of new rules is necessary.

What the municipal councilors propose:

1. The movement of scooters is prohibited in parks, gardens, squares, sidewalks and in pedestrian areas ("Vitosha" Blvd. between "Alabin" St. and "Patriarch Evtimiy" Blvd.; the area around "Ivan Vazov" Theater.; " Count Ignatiev" street between "Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi" Blvd. and "Alabin" St.; "Pirotska" St. in the section between "Knyaginya Maria Luiza" Blvd. and "Stefan Stambolov" Blvd.; "Stefan Stambolov" Blvd. in the section between "Exarch Yosif" Street and "Slivnitsa" Blvd. ...