The decision was promulgated by the Ministry for Home Affairs, who confirmed that, in light of “recent doubts”, the ANSR had issued a “technical instruction” that refers specifically to “electrically-aided motorcycles” (bicycles and electric scooters), and which concludes “riders are not required to wear helmets”.
Concerns had been raised as to how Lisbon’s shared networks would have been affected were the use of helmets to have been made compulsory.
The meeting was held last week after Lisbon’s PSP police, had fined several people riding an EMEL shared network electric bicycle without a helmet in Lisbon.
The council, had asked the police force to stop the fines, saying the use of helmet is not mandatory, which the PSP contradicted.
The ANSR’s ruling covers bicycles “equipped with auxiliary engine power of up to 0,25 kW, whose feeding is interrupted if it reaches a speed of 25 km/h, or before, if the driver stops pedalling”.
Also covered are scooters with an electric motor, “as well as electrically-motorised, self-balanced and self-propelled circulation devices or other analogous circulation means with engines”, the Ministry of Home Affairs specified.
And, despite the use of a helmet not being mandatory as now indicated by the ANSR, the Ministry of Home Affairs advises its use.
“Notwithstanding this technical guidance, we recommend the use of safety accessories that, even if not mandatory, can contribute to better individual protection of the users of bicycles” says the Ministry.
The ANSR further emphasised the dangers of bicycles and electric scooters invading spaces destined for pedestrians, with that entity recommending “inspections to be intensified as far as the proper use of the public space by the riders of the vehicles” in question.