In Lviv, the authorities have approved the first 11 locations where they plan to install experimental road signs and limit the speed of e-scooters, monowheels and bicycles to 15 km/h. These are potentially dangerous sections identified following an analysis of accident rates and numerous residents’ complaints. The relevant decision was adopted by the city commission on road safety.
According to the Department of Urban Mobility and Street Infrastructure of the Lviv City Council, in drawing up the list they took into account data from the patrol police for 2023–2025 on road accidents involving pedestrians and e-scooter users. They also added streets that most frequently attracted complaints about excessive speed of two-wheeled transport.
The speed limit zones are located in four districts of Lviv. The list includes:
- the junction of Prospekt V. Chornovola and Lypynskoho Street;
- Kulisha Street;
- T. Shevchenka Street (from Ya. Pstraka Street to Khorvatska Street);
- Zakhysnykiv Ukrainy Street;
- Horodotska Street (from Meretyna Street to Ozarkevycha Street);
- Doroshenka Street (from building No. 45 to building No. 65);
- Kopernyka Street (from Lem Square to S. Bandery Street);
- Soborna Square;
- Pekarska Street (from Soborna Square to Tershakovtsiv Street);
- Pasischna Street (from Holubtsia Street to Tadzhytska Street);
- the junction of Kniagyni Olhy Street and V. Velykoho Street (near building No. 65).
An interactive map showing the boundaries of these zones will soon be published on the website of the Lviv City Council.
The department notes that the 15 km/h speed limit on these sections will apply to all e-scooter users. For rental scooters, operators will be able to enforce this through software, as they already do in pedestrian zones and parks. Owners of private e-scooters will be informed about the new rules by experimental road signs.
“Our task is to make the rules clear to all users and improve safety on sections where the risk of road accidents is highest. These are the first such locations; in future their list may be reviewed and expanded,” said Oleh Zabarylo.
The installation of the new signs will begin once all the necessary approvals have been completed. In particular, the sign designs are currently being considered by the Patrol Police Department. The use of these signs within the Lviv City Territorial Community must also be approved by a decision of a session of the City Council. The first signs are expected to appear by September.
In early July, the executive committee of the Lviv City Council had already backed a package of changes aimed at tightening the rules for using e-scooters in the community. It is proposed to introduce a minimum user age of 16, compulsory use of protective helmets, a 15 km/h speed limit on potentially dangerous sections, and organised parking for scooters. To implement most of these initiatives, amendments need to be made to the Rules for the Improvement of the Lviv ATC, which are planned to be considered at the next plenary meeting at the end of July.
The City Council stresses that the additional safety measures are linked to a rise in the number of injuries sustained while using e-scooters, especially among children. According to the City Health Department, since March this year more than 100 children with serious injuries after riding e-scooters have been admitted to Lviv’s city and regional hospitals. Last year, three children who suffered severe injuries as a result of falling off e-scooters became posthumous donors after brain death was confirmed.
The Lviv City Council has also appealed to central government bodies, calling on them to regulate the use of e-scooters at national level as soon as possible.
The city has been cooperating with e-scooter rental service operators for several years under a memorandum. As a result, it has been possible to limit the maximum speed of rental scooters to 20 km/h and, on certain sections — mainly in pedestrian zones and parks — to 15 km/h, to set up 79 official parking areas, to introduce a scooter identification system, and to equip scooters with reflectors and lights.