Formal road ban on motorised scooters

New regulations just issued have formalised last year's ban on the use of motorised scooters on public roads.

Last July, the Malta Transport Authority had said it was unlawful to drive electric-powered motorised "micro" scooters and go-peds on any public road, including squares, pavements and promenades, unless they were specifically licensed.

It had cited safety concerns for not issuing the "micro" scooters and go-peds with a road licence.

The new regulations lay down that no-one shall ride a motorised scooter on a road, footpath or a promenade and anybody found guilty of this may be fined up to Lm25 or have the scooter confiscated, or even both.

Motorised scooters include motorised micro-scooters with an internal combustion engine or an electrical-powered motor and can reach a speed of up to 25 kilometres per hour.

The regulations, published in Tuesday's Government Gazette lay down that motorised scooters may only be used off road and in enclosed private areas.

Motorised scooters shall be registered with the Malta Transport Authority against a payment of a Lm5 administration fee.

When contacted, authority official Carmel Callus explained that the registration fee was a one-off. He said the motorised scooters did not require a licence because they could not be used on the road.

Mr Callus stressed that no regulations about scooters had previously existed.

The regulations also cover pedal and low-powered cycles - bicycles, tricycles and quadricycles without a motor. Mr Callus said mopeds and quadricycles fall under EU directives and the regulations abide by these.

Mopeds, light quadricycles and low-powered vehicles, including mobility scooters and motorised wheelchairs, also fall under the new regulations.