Prague is taking proactive measures to address the issue of electric scooters scattered haphazardly on sidewalks and in front of building entrances by implementing dedicated parking spaces. Joining this initiative, Prague 8, in collaboration with other city districts (Prague 2, 3, 7, and 8) and electric mobility operators, has started expanding designated parking areas for shared electric scooters. These parking spaces are strategically placed no more than 150 meters apart, aiming to provide convenient and organized scooter parking.

Jan Střecha from Rekola Bikesharing explained, “We have formed a working group comprising shared mobility providers such as Nextbike, Lime, and Bolt scooters and bikes. Together, we negotiate with individual city districts to establish parking spots and public racks for bikes and scooters, aiming to prevent them from being parked anywhere on the streets.”

Currently, Prague 8 has around 40 designated scooter parking spots, with approximately 25 spots in Karlín and additional locations in Palmovka and Ládví. Martin Jedlička, representative of Prague 8 and Chairman of the Transport Commission, emphasized the success of the initiative and expressed the district’s intention to further expand these dedicated parking areas.

To encourage users to park responsibly, the shared bike and scooter applications also enforce the use of designated parking spots. Parking elsewhere may result in a fine of 500 Czech crowns. Nextbike and Lítačka, as part of a memorandum with the City Hall of Prague, are required to issue fines if vehicles are parked outside the designated spots in their applications.

These parking spots are created in underutilized spaces, such as transportation shades or areas near crossings where cars are prohibited from parking. This approach minimizes the impact on existing parking spaces for cars. The network of parking spaces is expected to expand citywide in the future, although some districts express reservations about allowing parking for one-wheeled vehicles near crossings.

Prague 1 is also considering measures to manage the influx of scooters by potentially implementing fees and restrictions. Meanwhile, Prague 2 has made significant progress by collaborating with bike-sharing companies to clearly mark agreed-upon parking areas in their mobile applications. Companies must ensure that vehicles are relocated to designated areas if users leave them improperly parked on sidewalks.

The agreement between the city districts and operators also includes defining areas where riding is prohibited or allowed only at reduced speeds, specifically in parks and selected parts of public squares. Additionally, acoustic signals for localization are banned during nighttime to minimize noise disturbances.

By implementing dedicated parking spaces and enforcing responsible parking practices, Prague aims to reduce clutter, enhance pedestrian safety, and create a more organized and accessible environment for shared electric scooters in the city.

Article by Prague Forum