Bucharest council to ban electric scooter rentals for anyone under 18

Bucharest's General Council will consider a new regulation on Wednesday that would allow electric scooter rentals only for users aged 18 or older, as outlined by Vice-Mayor Stelian Bujduveanu. The rule mandates that renters present a valid identity document for the entire trip and that rental firms verify ages via their own applications, assuming direct responsibility for any breach. It also prohibits the use of mobile phones, tablets, and audio headsets while riding, and restricts travel to designated bike paths or public roads where the speed limit does not exceed 50 km/h. Parking on sidewalks, park trails, or other prohibited areas is banned; operators have 120 minutes to relocate improperly parked scooters after notification, after which the Local Police may remove them, charging a fee for each removal and a daily storage charge. Companies must pay an annual authorization fee of at least 5,000 lei and a daily charge of 1 lei per active scooter, with the regulation taking effect within 60 days if approved.