The Dutch government is considering a bill to allow electric scooters to use public roads and bike lanes from 2025. This has caused strong reactions from the city of Amsterdam, with some other cities such as Utrecht and the Hague also opposing the idea. Currently, using electric scooters is illegal in the Netherlands, and will land riders with a €280 fine if caught.
For ride-sharing providers like Lime, Tier and Dott, becoming legal would open up immense opportunities in the Dutch market. However, Amsterdam is reluctant to let the two-wheelers into its already overcrowded cycle paths. Melanie van der Horst, a spokesperson for the transport chief of the city, has already expressed the municipality’s concerns about traffic safety issues and has sent a letter to the ministry on the matter.
The Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) will be setting specific criteria for electric scooters in order for them to gain legal access to the public roads. Yet, even if the bill passes, Amsterdam will still be able to prevent ride-sharing providers from offering services in its public space.
In other European cities, electric scooters are a common sight. Paris recently put a stop to shared escooters from September, following a city-wide referendum.
The companies mentioned in this article – Lime, Tier and Dott – are ride-sharing providers of electric scooters that have been rapidly expanding across the world in recent years. All three companies offer dockless e-scooter rentals that can be unlocked through a dedicated mobile app and GPS technology. In addition, they also apply a social responsibility approach to their business by providing free or discounted rides, as well as supporting community events and helping with grassroots movements.
Ioanna is a writer at TNW (The Next Web), with a background in the humanities. She has a particular interest in startups, sustainability, green tech, AI, and EU policy, and covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem. Ioanna has a passion for writing about social impact-enabling technologies, aiming to give a voice to the most versatile and unique developments in the world.
