Electric Scooters for Kids - Where Can You Ride Them, and From What Age? Everything a Parent Needs to Know
In recent years, electric scooters have gained immense popularity – used by both children and adults seeking a quick and convenient means of transportation. Parents are increasingly asking where they can ride electric scooters, and from what age are they permitted (e.g., when a child is 6 years old can they start riding?). Can children ride electric scooters in public spaces? There are also questions about whether electric scooters can be ridden on sidewalks and what documents are required, such as a bicycle license for electric scooters? Below, you'll find clear explanations based on current regulations.
Why were electric scooter regulations needed?
An electric scooter is an electrically powered, two-axle vehicle equipped with a handlebar, no seat, and no pedals , designed for a single person. This is a key definition that distinguishes it from other modes of transportation.
Before 2021, electric scooters operated on Polish roads without clear legal regulations. Some rode them on sidewalks, others in the streets, increasing the number of collisions and posing a risk to pedestrians . Therefore, regulations regarding electric scooter use were introduced, clearly defining where electric scooters can be ridden and the age at which children can use them.
Electric scooters - how old do they need to be? Can a 6-year-old child ride them?
Parents often ask: can children ride electric scooters, and if so, from what age? The answer is clear: children under 10 are prohibited from riding electric scooters on public roads – even when accompanied by an adult.
The exception is the residential zone , where a child under 10 years of age (e.g. 6 years old) can ride an electric scooter, but only in the presence of a guardian.
Therefore, although manufacturers tempt with offers such as electric scooters for children aged 6 , in practice six-year-olds can only use them in private yards or in residential areas.
Bicycle card for an electric scooter – is it necessary?
Parents often wonder whether a bicycle license is required for electric scooters, or whether children can ride electric scooters without one . The regulations are clear: children and teenagers aged 10-18 must have a bicycle license or a category AM, A1, B1, or T driver's license . A bicycle license for an electric scooter—this solution is not accidental. A bicycle license ensures that a young driver knows basic traffic rules and can ride safely on the road.
Only after the age of 18 does an electric scooter not require any license.
Where can you ride an electric scooter?
According to applicable regulations, an electric scooter rider is obliged to use a bicycle path or bicycle lane, driving no faster than 20 km/h.
Where can you ride an electric scooter if there's no bike path or lane nearby? Regulations allow electric scooters to be ridden on the road , provided the speed limit on that road doesn't exceed 30 km/h . Even then, the scooter's speed can't exceed 20 km/h.
Thanks to these solutions, it is easier to answer the question of where you can ride an electric scooter: primarily on bicycle paths, and exceptionally on roads with limited speed.
Can you ride an electric scooter on the sidewalk? Special conditions
It's one of the most frequently asked questions: can you ride an electric scooter on the sidewalk? It's no secret that most parents feel more at ease when their child doesn't have to ride a scooter on the road. It's no wonder, then, that the question of whether you can ride an electric scooter on the sidewalk comes up so often. The answer is yes, but only in exceptional circumstances.
You can only use a sidewalk or pedestrian path with an electric scooter in two situations: when it is located next to a street where cars can travel faster than 30 km/h, and when there is no designated bike path or lane nearby.
In such a situation, special safety rules must be followed:
- drive at a speed close to that of a pedestrian,
- always give way to pedestrians,
- do not obstruct the movement of others.
To summarize, can you ride an electric scooter on a sidewalk? Yes, but this is the exception, not the norm , and pedestrian safety should be the priority.
Prohibitions and penalties – what to avoid according to the regulations regarding the use of electric scooters?
The new regulations also introduced a list of prohibitions. The most important of these are:
- ban on riding electric scooters on roadswhere the speed limit is greater than 30 km/h,
- ban on driving a scooter under the influence of alcohol,
- no transport of passengers, animals or large items,
- no towing or pulling other vehicles.
The regulations clearly state that electric scooters are not permitted on pedestrian crossings. The user must dismount and walk the scooter as if it were a pedestrian.
The amendment also introduced an offense for riding faster than a pedestrian on the sidewalk or failing to yield. Such violations can result in a fine . This makes it clear where electric scooters are permitted and the consequences for breaking the law.
Electric scooter regulations - summary of safety rules
As you can see, the current regulations clearly answer parents' questions. What age are electric scooters permitted? Children 10 years and older , and younger children, including 6-year-olds, can ride electric scooters only in residential areas and only under adult supervision. Can children ride electric scooters, for example, to school? Yes, but they must have a bicycle license . Can electric scooters be ridden on sidewalks? This is only allowed in special situations and provided the speed is no faster than normal walking.
In summary, the regulations regarding electric scooters are aimed at one thing: safety . Parents should teach their children the rules and ensure they use their scooters sensibly. Only then will riding become a true pleasure, not a risk.
Source (accessed on September 01.09.2025, XNUMX):
https://www.gov.pl/web/gitd/nowe-przepisy-dotyczace-hulajnog-elektrycznych-i-urzadzen-transportu-osobistego
