City Guards in Poland to Fine Offenders on Bicycles and Scooters
With the aim of ensuring public order and regulating transportation in residential and traffic areas, the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs has empowered municipal services to penalize those who ride bicycles or electric scooters on public roads.
This is reported by Polish Press Agency.
Offenders, particularly those who pose a danger to pedestrians by using sidewalks, will face significant fines ranging from 50 to 200 zlotys (equivalent to 11 to 45 euros).
At the same time, individuals operating non-motorized vehicles without the required permits could be fined up to 1,500 zlotys (about 335 euros).
According to the regulations, children under the age of 10 are permitted to ride bicycles and scooters only under adult supervision. Individuals between the ages of 10 and 18 must possess at least a cycling card or driving licences in categories A1, AM, B1, or T. Adults need only provide identification.
Fines of up to 1,500 zlotys can also be imposed for the following infractions:
- Failure to yield to pedestrians.
- Overtaking a stopped vehicle in front of a pedestrian crossing.
- Not giving the right of way to individuals with disabilities on crossings.
To legally ride a bicycle, individuals aged 10 to 18 are obligated to obtain a cycling card. Examinations for this card are typically held in schools during the summer month of June. However, for adolescents under 18 not attending elementary school, classes are conducted at the voivodeship transport centre.
To pass the bicycle riding test successfully, future students must pass both practical and written portions.
Henryk Rusnak, the head of the City Guards in Chorzow, stated that his office receives very few reports of violations of traffic rules by people on bicycles or scooters.
"These are isolated incidents that come to us, and I hope it stays that way. But when guards patrol the streets, they will take note and pay attention to inadequate behavior by people on bicycles or scooters. We want pedestrians and other road users to be safe," the official added.
As previously reported by The Gaze, the Latvian Parliament approved amendments to the Road Traffic Law, which include increased fines and new responsibilities for electric scooter and bicycle users.
These amendments include the mandatory registration of electric scooters with the application of state registration stickers on the frames. Riding electric scooters will now only be permitted for individuals who possess a valid bicycle driver's licence or any other category of transport permit.