EDPM and Traffic Laws: Where and how to ride electric scooters

Since October 25, 2019, the Highway Code treats electric scooters as fully-fledged vehicles: motorized personal mobility devices, or PMDs. It defines where they can be used, who can operate them, how they must be equipped, and the penalties for any violations. In summary: a maximum speed of 25 km/h by design, use bike lanes first, never sidewalks, only one occupant allowed, and a minimum age of 14. This guide outlines these rules, as published by the Road Safety Agency and service-public.fr.

What is an EDPM?

The EDPM (Electric Personal Mobility) category includes electric scooters, electric unicycles, gyroscooters, and hoverboards. Service-public.fr also includes the "cyclomobile léger" (light electric moped), which is a small, seated scooter without a rear seat or luggage rack, weighing no more than 30 kg when empty. The common features are: a motor, no space for a passenger, and a maximum speed, by design, limited to 25 km/h.

"By design" is the key phrase. It's not a speed limit that you adhere to by checking your speedometer; it's a characteristic of the device itself. According to the DGCCRF (French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention), a scooter that has a mode exceeding 25 km/h is not allowed to be used on public roads, even if it defaults to a 25 km/h mode. Some cities impose even lower speed limits; the Road Safety Agency cites Lorient, which is limited to 20 km/h.

Where to ride

In urban areas

• Bike paths and lanes: Mandatory when they exist. Two-way bike lanes and bicycle lanes at traffic lights are permitted, just like for regular bicycles.
• Alternative routes: Roads where the maximum authorized speed is 50 km/h or less.
• Pedestrian areas: It is possible to use electric scooters in pedestrian areas at a moderate speed (6 km/h according to service-public.fr), without obstructing pedestrians.
• Sidewalks: Prohibited. The mayor may authorize their use locally, at a walking pace; otherwise, the device must be pushed by hand.

Outside of urban areas

Traffic is only permitted on greenways and bike paths. Expressways and highways are prohibited. The traffic police may, locally, authorize the use of other roads, for example, certain roads with a speed limit of 80 km/h. On these roads, a helmet, reflective gear, and the use of position lights become mandatory, both day and night.

Private roads, such as the driveway of a residential complex or a path on private property, can still be used with the permission of the owner.

Who is allowed to drive, and how?

• Age: At least 14 years old. The minimum age has been raised from 12 to 14 years with decree No. 2023-848 of August 31, 2023, which amended Article R412-43-3 of the Highway Code. A dedicated guide details the minimum age requirements for young riders.
• Single occupant only: Use is strictly for individual riders. Transporting a passenger is a fourth-class offense under the same decree.
• No headphones or phones in hand: Any device worn on the ear or held in the hand that is capable of emitting sound is prohibited, including phones held in the hand.
• Alcohol and drugs: Prohibited beyond the legal limits, just like for a cyclist.
• No towing: It is prohibited to push or pull a load with the vehicle, or to be pulled by it. The road safety brochure also prohibits the transportation of goods.
• Traffic laws apply: lights, stop signs, right-of-way, pedestrian crossings.

The equipment:

The vehicle must have brakes, a horn, front and rear position lights, and reflectors on the rear and sides (and on the front, according to the road safety brochure). Side reflectors are not required if the tires have reflective strips. The rider must wear a reflective vest or other reflective gear at night, or during the day when visibility is poor. A helmet is highly recommended; it is mandatory at the national level only on roads with a speed limit of 80 km/h that are locally accessible, but service-public.fr indicates that Paris and several departments require it. See our guides on lighting and on helmets and safety equipment.

Park

Park your scooter in the designated areas. If no designated areas are available, parking on the sidewalk is permitted as long as it does not obstruct pedestrians, but the mayor may prohibit it. In Paris, parking on the sidewalk is prohibited for shared scooters, with a fine of €35 and towing fees.

Sanctions

Amounts published by the French Road Safety Agency and service-public.fr (fixed fines):

Unlocking the full potential goes to another level: according to the DGCCRF (French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control), Article L317-1 of the Highway Code punishes it with a one-year prison sentence and a fine of €30,000, and using an unlocked vehicle is a fourth-class offense, with possible impoundment, towing, and confiscation. Riding without insurance is a criminal offense. All of this is detailed in our guides on unlocked scooters and on insurance.

And what about the powerful scooters?

The machines we prepare, and most models sold as "sporty," far exceed 25 km/h by design. They are not electric personal mobility devices (EPMPs) in the legal sense, and the DGCCRF (French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control) specifies that there is no approval process to make them legal for use on public roads. Our terms and conditions of sale reiterate this: these vehicles are intended for private, closed areas or race tracks. This is where our E'trott Racing team competes, with the machine being transported to the track.