A petition has been launched on the public initiative portal "Manabalss.lv" to allow only individuals aged 18 and over to use rented electric scooters.
The representative of the initiative is Jākabs Pauls Akermanis.
The initiative proposes the introduction of mandatory identity verification for users using an eID card or passport with photo verification. According to Akermanis, providers of electric scooter and other light vehicle rental services are required to implement technical solutions in their applications to control age.
Akermanis also believes that companies should be held accountable if they do not verify users' ages or allow the possibility of circumventing the system, and introduce fines for those who intentionally register with someone else's data to bypass age restrictions.
Thus, according to the author of the initiative, it will be possible to reduce the number of road accidents, injuries, and fatalities involving minors, people will have confidence that these services are regulated and controlled, and parents will be assured that their children cannot use rented electric scooters and bikes without permission.
As reported, on October 1, two girls born in 2012 died near the Imanta station in Riga while riding an electric bike from "Ride Mobility" and were hit by a train. The Consumer Rights Protection Center (CRPC) ordered the suspension of the electric bike rental company's activities, and the mayor of Riga, Viesturs Kleinbergs, called for an assessment of its operations. On Friday, the CRPC announced that it would impose an administrative penalty on "Ride Mobility" for failing to suspend operations in accordance with the center's requirement.
It should be noted that on Thursday, October 2, the Consumer Rights Protection Center (PTAC) decided to suspend the services of the scooter and electric scooter sharing operator "Ride Mobility" (SIA "Ride"). This decision followed the mayor of Riga Viesturs Kleinbergs' call to assess the company's activities, which was related to the death of two girls born in 2012 who, using the "Ride Mobility" device, were hit by a train in Imanta. On Friday, PTAC announced that it would impose an administrative penalty on "Ride Mobility" for failing to suspend operations in accordance with PTAC's requirement.
PTAC urged all consumers, especially youth and their parents, to use shared transportation responsibly, following the rules and laws established by service providers. PTAC also reminded that using electric scooters and other micromobility devices without proper training and age verification can pose serious risks both to users themselves and to those around them. Latvians expressed their outrage at the actions of SIA "Ride" on social media.
Earlier, on October 1, a tragic incident occurred at the Imanta railway station: two girls riding a rented scooter were hit by a train. The ambulance reported that one of the girls died at the scene before the medics arrived. Three medical teams attempted to save the second girl; however, the injuries were too severe.
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