Legislation – Switzerland

Bern, 15.04.2015 – Today the Federal Council adapted the technical regulations and traffic rules for vehicles such as electric scooters or electric floor-rickshaws. With the appropriate facilities to new vehicles can be worn better account. The Regulation changes in early June 2015.

In recent years, electric powered motor vehicles have been placed on the market that can not easily be classified into one of the existing categories of vehicles.These include, for example, self-balancing scooter (z. B. SegwayTM) or bike rickshaws with an electric assist motor. Accordingly, the traffic rules and regulations for driving license the vehicles do not meet today. Parliament has the Federal Council commissioned the Motion 12.3979 “transport facilities for electric mobility equipment” is to improve this situation.

New: Equality with E-Bikes

The changes adopted today aim to equate stand scooter type vehicles at the traffic rules completely and rickshaw-like vehicles partly to slow e-bikes (to 25 km / h). Standing scooter type vehicles may thus for example using new bike paths. Self-balancing vehicles, which can also be with a one wheel, may be driven without identity over 14 years with a driving license for mopeds (“Töffliausweis”) and over 16 years. Rickshaw-like vehicles may also ride on cycle paths if they are not wider than one meter. For driving a rickshaw-type vehicle entitle all motorcycle passes, the card B (passenger cars) or the F permit (permit up to 45 km / h). Driving a rickshaw is possible with 16 years in the future.

A detailed overview of the classification of vehicles affected by the revision can be found in the annex to this press release (document “tabular overview of changes” german language). Can be seen in the table, the respective technical regulations, the applicable traffic rules and regulations for driving license of the vehicles affected by the revision.

Another amendment relates to the motorized wheelchairs: Today may be driven on sidewalks and other pedestrian areas in order. However, this privilege is subject legally to the vehicle (wheelchair) and not to the user (handicapped person). New is clearly established that only people with reduced mobility may use motorized wheelchairs and vehicles such as electric scooters standing on pedestrian surfaces. This prevents that such vehicles and wheelchairs of disabled people not to be used on pedestrian surfaces.

The Regulation changes come into force on 1 June 2015.