After a draft law has been submitted in the Parliament that provides for the introduction of a special permit (category AM1) for the use of electric scooters and bicycles, the truth requested the position of the main mobility and delivery platforms that use these means of transport. The representatives of Bolt and Wolt transmitted, at the request of Adevărul, detailed points of view on the potential impact of the measure.
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Bolt: “The permit would discourage the use of scooters and return people to cars”
Bolt representatives told the truth that the introduction of a special permit would restrict the use of electric scooters and bicycles and would affect the development of organic urban mobility.
“We consider that the introduction of an obligation to hold a special permit for the use of electric scooters and bicycles will only restrict the use of these ecological means of transport and the benefits that these solutions bring in urban mobility. It would drastically limit the accessibility for a large part of the users.”the company representatives transmitted.
They point out that imposing a “licensing” procedure would restrict access in particular to people without a car permit, who choose scooters just to avoid using the car.
“Such a regulation would cause users to return to cars, which would increase traffic even more”, explains Bolt.
A company survey at European level shows that 39.6% of users most appreciate the comfort of scooters, 33.3% flexibility, and 16.3% freedom of outdoor movement. At the same time, 40% of Bolt races end or start near public transport stations, which shows that scooters directly contribute to urban connectivity.
The company stresses that most of the scouts in the sharing systems respect the legal speed limits and do not fall into the categories for which a driving license would be required. “The imposition of an additional requirement should be taken into account only for scooters that exceed the speed or weight allowed by law, situations already regulated”, the representatives of Bolt said.
As an alternative, the company proposes on the one hand the introduction of road education hours in schools, to promote responsible use of electric scooters; On the other hand, differentiated requirements only for scooters that exceed the legal technical limits.
“We will participate in the public debate on this subject, where we will contribute with data and expertise on the use of electric scooters”they added.
Wolt: “The rules must be clear and accessible”
Contacted by Adevărul, Wolt representatives have stressed that they support any initiative that improves road safety, provided that the new rules are accessible, clear and applicable to all couriers.
“At Wolt, safety is an absolute priority: for both our courier partners and for all other traffic participants. We encourage any initiative meant to improve road safety, developed through dialogue with all parties involved,” the company representatives said.
Wolt believes that clear regulations can support the entire sector, through a better understanding of the safety rules: “For courier partners who use scooters and electric bicycles, adequate training could significantly contribute to traffic safety.”
At the same time, the company points out that any new requirement should be introduced in an accessible way, with educational materials available in several languages, so that all couriers can easily comply.
“Although Wolt does not directly hire couriers and, therefore, cannot manage or impose the process of obtaining the permit, we are always open to collaborate with the fleet partners, authorities and training providers to share information and promote safety. Our goal is that this transition is as easy as possible and to make sure that everyone will continue to do it. the representatives of the institution also transmitted.
Online debate: between safety and bureaucracy
The proposal regarding the introduction of a special permit for electric scooters and bicycles has aroused an intense debate on the Redit Romania platform, where hundreds of users have shared their opinions: from supporting the measure, in the name of road safety, to criticisms related to bureaucracy and lack of infrastructure.
One of the comments with the most votes claims that the adoption of the law would strongly affect deliverants: “With this law 80% of food suppliers fall”, ” wrote a user. Others have ironized the excessive character of the proposal: “Allowed scooters, social networks permit, will be allowed to draw water in the toilet. Not the other, but it also makes the state a penny”, noted another commentator.
On the other hand, some of the users believe that the measure could bring more responsibility in traffic. “It would not be bad to know the rules of traffic those who go in traffic. The fact that the scooters are in traffic without a huge stupid permit.” wrote a user.
However, there are voices that invoke the problem of infrastructure and the application of the law, not the rules itself. “The legislation is strict enough, but it does not apply. The problem is that the police are missing. And without dedicated tracks, all traffic becomes a lottery”, emphasized another participant in the discussion.
Others point out that responsibility should not be reduced to obtaining a permit: “Road education in schools would be a simpler and more efficient solution. The permit does not guarantee that you know the rules or that you respect them” commented on a user who says he has five categories of car license.
While some require mandatory helmet and protective equipment, others say that any regulation that discourages alternative transport will generate more car traffic.
The general tone of the debate shows a polarization between the need for safety and distrust in the efficiency of regulations, a recurrent theme in discussions about urban mobility in Romania.
From RCA on CNP to permit for scooters
The discussion about the regulation of electric scooters resumed just a week after Titi Aur’s proposal on the introduction of a CNP for the users of these vehicles has sparked controversy in the public space.
In an interview with Adevărul, Alexandru Petrescu, the president of the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF), explained that the subject has a real basis and must be viewed in the context of the European Directive 2021/2118/EC, which extends the obligation to provide RCA to certain vehicles, including scooters and electric bicycles, when they exceed 25 km/H.
“The discussion about the obligation of a civil liability insurance for the users of electric scooters is a legitimate and necessary one. Romania has the obligation to transpose into the national legislation this European Directive”, Petrescu said for Adevărul.
The official stressed that there is already a draft amendment to the RCA law, debated at the Chamber of Deputies, which aims to bring a frame adapted to the new forms of urban mobility.
“ASF will support any regulation that brings clarity, equity and real protection for traffic participants. The correct solution is a normative applicable, proportional and accepted by PUBLIC ”, said the president of the ASF.
From insurance to licensing
The new legislative proposal regarding the introduction of an AM1 type permit for electric scooters and bicycles comes, on the same fund of concern about road safety, but changes the direction of the discussion: from insurance and financial responsibility, to licensing and road competence.
If the RCA project aimed to compensate the victims and the traceability of the damages, the current initiative emphasizes the testing of the circulation knowledge and on the conditional access through a written exam and a practical test.
However, both proposals have the same public motivation in common: the increasing number of accidents. The data of the Romanian Police show that over 1,600 incidents with electric scooters were reported only in the first nine months of 2025, resulting in 7 deaths.
In this context, the Financial Supervisory Authority supports the introduction of differentiated measures, depending on the speed and mass of the vehicle, while the mobility companies warn about the risk of limiting access to ecological urban transport.
Thus, in just a few days, Romania went from the debate on the RCA to the one about the compulsory permit for scooters: two initiatives which, although different, have the same stated purpose: safety, responsibility and clear rules in urban traffic.
