Parking restriction area extended
The key change in the proposal relates to the parking restriction zones, which will be implemented by geofencing by geofencing. The City and the operators have previously agreed that shared electric scooters can only be parked in the parking zones reserved for them in the city centre and around train and metro stations. This means that the GPS of the scooter prevents parking outside these zones. Starting next spring, the restricted area would cover almost the entire city centre up to Töölö and Pasila. In addition, new restricted areas will be assigned around train stations, for example.
The parking restriction zone in the city centre was piloted with operators in 2023, with additional zones added in 2024. The City received good feedback on the restriction zones, and the new licence conditions take into account this feedback and experiences with these zones. Smaller no-parking zones have also been proposed in other areas of Helsinki, e.g. near schools and daycare centres. These licence terms applied to parking aim to especially improve accessibility and the premises of maintenance operations. The dialogue regarding the licence conditions focused, in particular, on consulting the most vulnerable groups, such as organisations of disabled and elderly people and public authorities.
The new law gives parking inspectors the right to immediately move electric shared-use scooters and bicycles parked in breach of the licence conditions, if they are not parked in a designated area in the city centre.
Micromobility system constantly evolving
The shared-use electric scooters introduced in 2019 have proved popular with both residents and visitors to the city. The first voluntary restrictions were agreed with the operators already back in 2021, and over the years Helsinki put other restrictions in place, e.g. relating to the night-time use and speed limits of electric scooters. The City also created areas where the scooters could only be parked in parking areas reserved for them. These previously agreed restrictions have now mostly been included in the proposed licence conditions.
The law adopted in the summer will give municipalities greater powers to regulate the use of electric scooters and other micromobility devices in shared use. However, the licence conditions must be necessary or indispensable in terms of traffic safety, accessibility or street maintenance and cleaning. Any operator starting operations in the city must apply for the licence in advance, and the conditions apply throughout the city. The operators in Helsinki have also had the chance to comment on the licence conditions.
–Voluntary agreements have been the only effective tool to tackle the disadvantages of using these popular services. The micromobility system has been developed actively and will continue to be developed in this new licence system. The first licence period would be just over a year, and the functionality of the licence conditions will be monitored. The purpose of the licence conditions is to ensure a safe and accessible urban space, says Heikki Palomäki, head of the Transport System Unit.
The Urban Environment Committee will also discuss two council initiatives related to micromobility at its meeting. According to the law, the micromobility licence must be introduced by 1 January 2026 at the latest. The current season of shared electric scooters will continue for a while, weather permitting.
