Poland to Introduce New Rules, Penalties for Abandoned E-Scooters

Poland is set to introduce stricter regulations and penalties to tackle the growing issue of abandoned electric scooters cluttering its cities. The Ministry of Infrastructure announced that rental e-scooters will soon be required to park exclusively in designated areas. Owners will face the cost of removing any scooters parked improperly, a move aimed at addressing the hazards these discarded devices pose to pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities and parents with strollers.

The legislative push follows a dramatic increase in e-scooter-related accidents and fatalities. Statistics from the Police Headquarters' Accident and Collision Registration System show a 163% surge in incidents between 2023 and 2025, rising from 264 to 696. Fatalities also climbed from three to eight in the same period, with the number of injured individuals escalating from 269 to 757.

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We know how big a problem parking this type of equipment in random places, or rather abandoning it anywhere, is. It poses a real threat to people with disabilities or parents with strollers. Therefore, we will introduce an obligation to park rental electric scooters exclusively in places designated by the road manager. Improperly parked scooters will be removed at the owner's expense.

Local authorities have already begun implementing restrictions. Warsaw has banned e-scooters from sensitive areas like the Old Town and Royal Łazienki Park, while Sopot has prohibited them on its main pedestrian street and promenade during peak tourist seasons. However, enforcement remains a challenge, with many riders ignoring the existing rules. Sopot's City Guard issued 157 fines totaling over 12,000 Polish zloty between January and June, alongside 22 warnings, highlighting the ongoing struggle to ensure compliance.

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This is an area with the highest pedestrian and tourist traffic, including Bohaterów Monte Cassino Street, Plac Przyjaciół Sopotu, and Skwer Kuracyjny. The ban on Bohaterów Monte Cassino Street applies year-round, while in the other two locations, it is in effect from May 1 to September 30.