Even though scooters and e-bikes have more presence on streets, their standards and regularization vary in different entities.
In Mexico City (CDMX), for example, the plan for e-bikes is to prohibit their circulation inside of bike ways. Due, many of them exceed the 15.5 mph, so, those can’t be considered as recreational vehicles anymore.
As established by law, all vehicle that exceeds this speed must be considered as motorized. Meaning, in addition to be under the transit regulations and sanctions of this type of transport, must have identification number plates.
In case of those that due motor limitations don’t exceed the speed, or aren’t boosted by motors, are exempt of all the regulations. However, this isn’t the case everywhere. For example, in Spain, cyclists can be ticketed with economic sanctions if don’t respect any transit regulation.
At Ensenada, Baja California, is also considered bike users receive fines in case of use bike lane. We suggest you to be aware of your local regulations to avoid fines.
What happen with scooters?
Scooters are on the same situation, some of them can reach the 62 mph, and is planned to be regularized.
A recent case occurs in Guadalajara through a proposal by alderman of Movimiento Ciudadano Party, Luis Cisneros Quirarte. The aim is to modify the Reglamento Municipal de Movilidad (City Hall Regulations of Mobility) and Ley Estatal del Ramo (State Law), for scooters to circulate on bike lanes to less than 15 mph.
As an answer, transport users & members of Scooters GDL, were in favor for the regularization of scooters for everyone’s safety.
Pablo Treviño, the voice of the movement said:
“Me, for example, the (scooter) that I have reach the 52 mph. Some others reach to more than 62 mph. It doesn’t mean we ride at that speed, but is one of the things that are planned here.
Separate the scooters that due security should go by bike lane exclusively, and the ones that wish to have the legal certainty of going by a lane, as a low powered motorized vehicle, without any problem”.
Should or shouldn’t scooters use bike ways?
Talking about Mexico, there’s no regulation that demands to the 100% to owners of scooters and e-bikes to go or not within bikeways.
Yet, the recommendation for all the states is the same. If a vehicle with motor doesn’t exceed the 15 mph, can and is suggested to circulate in bikeways.
About this topic, at Torreon, the incumbent of the Dirección de la Vialidad y Movilidad Urbana (Direction of Road and Urban Mobility), Luis Morales Cortés, declared that at least in this entity, scooters can’t circulation in high-speed avenues, but can circulate in bike lanes.
In this entity, scooters and e-bikes are considered as recreational vehicles. However, their use is recommended in parks, neighborhoods, and public routes, except in places that reach high speeds.
About this, Morales Cortés declared that these vehicles don’t get to 24 mph but exceed 15 mph, the speed of a bike. In their neighborhoods and parks can circulate but always respecting the integrity of everyone. Can use bike ways in all cases”.
