Szeged fines e-scooter use in pedestrian areas
Authorities in Szeged can now fine e-scooter riders and users of other motorized recreational devices for violating newly tightened public-space rules, following a decision by the city council late last year.
Under the amended ordinance, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2026, fines of up to 200,000 forints (about $530) may be imposed on people who ride electric scooters in areas designated exclusively for pedestrians, operate them on green spaces, or park them in a way that endangers others.
The rules apply not only to e-scooters but also to all electrically powered or motor-driven recreational and sports devices, city officials said. Their use is prohibited on sidewalks, in pedestrian zones, and on the pedestrian-designated sections of shared pedestrian and bicycle paths.
Fines may also be issued for improper parking that obstructs safe movement in public spaces, including blocking tactile paving designed to assist blind and visually impaired pedestrians.
Deputy Mayor for Urban Policy József Binszki said enforcement will initially focus on warnings, with fines imposed only if noncompliance continues. However, the regulation gives authorities the legal basis to penalize offenders from now on.
Municipal representative and councillor Edvin Mihálik said in a Facebook post that he hopes the stricter rules will reduce the number of complaints from residents about unsafe riding and careless parking.
The changes were adopted as part of a broader amendment to Szeged’s ordinance on the use of public spaces. As part of the same package, the city also made the installation and maintenance of electric charging stations subject to a fee.
Szeged’s move follows a broader European trend. Several cities have introduced restrictions on e-scooters in recent years: Paris took action in 2023, Madrid banned rentable e-scooters in 2024, and Prague’s city leadership decided in October that electric scooters would be banned in the Czech capital from 2026.
Featured image only for illustration. Source: Unsplash
