Age verification will now be required to use most shared e-scooters in Brussels. This will prevent under-16s from using the vehicles by making proof of identity mandatory to start a ride.
Only a relatively new invention, e-scooters are now ubiquitous on Brussels streets with several companies providing them as a convenient means of getting around. But they aren't without problems: a marked rise in accidents was recorded whilst pedestrians felt less safe and e-scooters were left scattered on pavements as parking rules were not enforced.
Stricter rules around shared mobility came into force in July 2022. These included a ban on riding with two people on a single scooter. An age restriction for e-scooters was also put in place, designed to keep under-16s off the vehicles. Technically this means that anyone under 16 who is caught riding an electric scooter risks a €58 fine.
But while some youngsters are apprehended in police checks, operators largely failed to impose age checks. In response, the Brussels Region has now obliged them to implement this measure.
Passport or driving licence
E-scooter operators Voi, Bolt and Dott have now introduced age verification. Using their e-scooters will not be possible without undergoing an age check, Bruzz reported. How the companies verify the rider's age is up to them as no exact framework was established.
Voi has already experimented with age checks in the past year. It now asks users to take a photo of an official proof of identity. This could be their driving licence, identity card, passport or residence permit. Riders are also asked to take a selfie so the company can verify that the identity matches. Bolt and Dott put the same measure into force on Monday.
Responding to privacy concerns, Voi gave assurances that user privacy is not compromised by its checks, which are carried out by an external partner fully compliant with GDPR rules. The operator itself does not have any access to the data or photos.
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Only Lime is refusing to implement such a check. It told Brussels Mobility that the measure lacks legal basis as it is not included in the current licence. The company added that users who sign Lime's contractual terms and conditions must already acknowledge that they are 18 or older.
However the other operators argue that all share-step operators should adhere to the same rules to ensure fair competition. When Voi was alone in its age check process, it lost up to half of its users. But it is unclear how Brussels Mobility can further encourage operators to follow the rules.
