The Matthew at JCU In Photos

Electric Scooters and Bicycles are Harming Italy’s Capital

ROME: April 1, 2024. A broken e-scooter lays by the river Tiber sidewalk beneath Ponte Sisto and Lungotevere dei Tebaldi.

By Diego Maldonado | Photoreporter

In June 2020, the micro-mobility company Lime delivered their first electric scooters and bicycles. Other e-transportation companies followed, as Bird and Dott also installed their e-vehicles. While said companies promised to lower carbon emissions in the Italian capital, according to CNN, rental e-scooters and e-bikes pollute Rome’s streets and environment. Moreover, ignorant misuse of said eco-friendly vehicles pose a safety hazard to its riders and to the public.  

According to expert Hugh Lefcort, a biology professor at Gonzaga University who specializes in ecotoxicology, the Tiber River stands polluted as the environment and public health face a problem due to the underwater batteries of said e-vehicles with e-scooters and e-bikes sunken in its waters. Varying from lithium-ion batteries, sealed lead-acid batteries, and nickel metal hydride batteries, e-vehicle batteries contain toxic substances such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel.   

Professor Lefcort also says that the negative exposure of said harmful components may impact heart contractions, affect kidneys, and cause neurological effects in mammals and marine life.  

On the surface, e-vehicles also create problems. Local Salvatore Giordono, 38, uses Dott’s e-scooters to easily move around the city, yet he believes that they create issues.   

“It’s something that starts off good, but then becomes bad,” said Giordono. “I’ve seen people park e-scooters inside churches, and I’ve told these people to use these vehicles properly and not leave them in holy places.”   

Meanwhile, some riders disregard safety laws surrounding e-scooters. According to safety regulations of Lime, Bird, and Dott, only one rider is permitted per scooter, and yet many riders break the law endangering themselves and traffic. Moreover, according to article 156 of decree 121/2021 of Italian law, minors under 14 years old are prohibited from riding e-scooters, and yet many parents ride e-scooters with their children or allow them to ride e-scooters by themselves. Furthermore, Italian law requires all riders aged 14 through 18 to wear helmets, and yet many fail to do so.   

While e-vehicles attempt to solve environmental problems, they also create new problems.   

ROME: February 21, 2024. Lime e-bikes sink in Tiber River near Ponte Sisto.
ROME: March 17, 2024. A man and his child ride Bird e-scooter crossing Lungotevere dei Sangallo. The company’s safety site prohibits minors from riding scooters. Moreover, their policy also includes a one rider per scooter policy only.
ROME: March 6, 2024. A pyramid of Bird e-scooters occupies the sidewalk in Viale Trastevere.
ROME: February 14, 2024. A row of Lime e-bikes organized neatly by a company worker sit in Piazza Trilussa.
ROME: March 20, 2024. A couple rides Lime e-scooter in Largo Argentina. The scooter company prohibits having more one than rider per scooter. They also recommend helmet use for their users.
ROME: March 17, 2024. A sign at the entrance of Museo di Roma in Palazzo Braschi prohibits scooters and bikes from getting in.
ROME: Febraury 9, 2024. A minor and her parents ride e-scooters illegally in pedestrian area in Piazza Spagna at the Colonna dell’Immacolata Concezione. Italian law prohibits minors under 14 from riding scooters. Moreover, the law requires minors of 14 and above to ride scooters with helmets.
ROME: February 20, 2024. Lime e-scooter lays in the ground outside of Ministero dell’Istruzione e del Merito in Via Emilio Borsini.
ROME: March 20, 2024. A group of riders using Dott e-scooters and e-bikes cross the street as traffic light changes in Largo Argentina.
ROME: January 19, 2024. E-bikes and e-scooter that sank in Tiber River rust on the river’s sidewalk beneath Ponte Sisto and Lungotevere dei Vallati.
ROME: March 31, 2024. A young man rides Lime e-scooter in Viale Trastevere while using his phone. Lime’s rules prohibits texting or calling while riding their scooters.
ROME: April 1, 2024. A broken e-scooter lays by the river Tiber sidewalk beneath Ponte Sisto and Lungotevere dei Tebaldi.