In spring 2022, the city of Gothenburg imposed a limit of 4,400 on the number of micro-mobility vehicles, such as electric scooters and bicycles. However, in 2023, the permitted maximum number will increase to 5,000 for central Gothenburg. Markus Aarflot stated that the decision was made due to the increasing demand and opportunities in central Gothenburg. Last year, five companies had the permit to operate electric scooters; however, Bird had left last fall, and Lime chose not to apply for a permit this year. The company Ryde has been given the green light to operate electric scooters and bikes. The vehicles had previously received criticism for being dumped everywhere and for being a traffic hazard. However, the city of Gothenburg has implemented various tools, such as digital fences and a zone system, to limit and manage the number of vehicles in high traffic areas. The companies are now responsible for ensuring the number of electric scooters in central Gothenburg does not exceed the maximum limit. A system to regulate congestion has also been introduced that includes a parking ban for electric scooters on footpaths in 2023. Companies violating this will be warned or may have their permit immediately withdrawn or may not be renewed next year.
In the spring of 2022, the city of Gothenburg limited the total number of so-called micro-mobility vehicles (which include electric scooters and electric bicycles) to 4,400. In 2023, the permitted maximum number in central Gothenburg will increase to 5,000.
– There is a demand and we see that there is an opportunity to do this in central Gothenburg, says Markus Aarflot.
Last year, five companies had permission to deploy electric scooters. The company Bird left last fall and Lime chose not to apply for a permit this year. Now, instead, the company Ryde has been given the green light. They will also rent out electric bikes.
Has previously received criticism
Electric scooters have been debated for several years. The vehicles have previously received criticism for being dumped everywhere and for being a traffic hazard.
How do you view the criticism given that you now allow more?
– We have quite a few tools that were not implemented in 2021 that we received in 2022 that we are now working on. We assess that it will work much better, says Markus Aarflot.
The city of Gothenburg has several ways to reduce the problems with electric scooters. For example, there are digital fences to limit where the scooters can be parked and how fast they can be driven.
Markus Aarflot.
New system to regulate congestion
Now a zone system will also be introduced that makes it possible to see how many vehicles are in an area. The aim is to ensure that there is no congestion in the centre, where each company may have a maximum of 1,250 vehicles.
The zones also mean that companies can have both electric scooters and e-bikes outside central Gothenburg, in addition to the maximum limit. Voi and Bolt have received permission to expand their area of operation and will rent out between 500 and 1,300 vehicles.
– They are in an area where there is good public transport already today. The further outside the center they go, the greater function they can have in the transport system, says Markus Aarflot.
The companies are responsible for ensuring that the number of electric scooters in central Gothenburg does not exceed the maximum limit and may, for example, have to move vehicles.
What do you do if it gets crowded in central Gothenburg?
– In order for the companies to be able to operate in Gothenburg, we set this condition. If they do not comply, we will warn them and then the consequence will be that we withdraw their permit immediately or that they do not get their permit renewed next year.
Parking bans on footpaths must be introduced
In 2023, there will also be a parking ban for electric scooters on footpaths. Exactly which parts of Gothenburg will be covered by the ban has not yet been decided. The introduction was on the table as early as 2022, but then the city of Gothenburg decided not to introduce the ban temporarily.
Now it should be in place in September, according to Markus Aarflot.
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