Is it Ok to leave electric scooters parked on the sidewalks: Yes or No?

While the municipality of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode decided to ban scooter parking on the sidewalks, it seems the municipality could be breaching the regional law.

The electric scooters have invaded Brussels. There’s no point in denying that, and one sees dozens of them while walking in the Belgian capital (if you don’t use them already).

Although lots of people find it very practical, a strict legal framework might be needed over the upcoming months. It is first of all about road safety, but also about the inconveniences the pedestrians have to face.

While people still agree or disagree in this regard, the local authorities of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode have taken a first step this week. On Tuesday, they have voted in favour of fining those who leave the electric scooters in random places on the walkway. They also plan to set up specific zones, where the scooters might be parked. And in case a person doesn’t comply with this decision, he/she could be fined up to EUR 350.

This initiative however hasn’t received an overall support. Pascal Smet, the Brussels-Capital minister in charge of mobility, deems that illegal. “The decision to limit only to four parking places the electric scooters is apparently illegal and it will be repealed,” he said on Friday before the regional parliament. He thinks it breaches the regional law to frame the use of scooters and bikes.

He nevertheless doesn’t encourage the users to leave the scooters wherever they want, disturbing pedestrians and persons with reduced mobility.

Maybe it is only a start, and the electric scooters might lead to a legal saga soon.