For those who are considering getting themselves e-scooters, they have become all the rage recently. But due to their popularity there has been a growing concern about the legality of these vehicles. It's difficult to classify them, and the lines blur between this being a regular bicycle or a motorized vehicle. This has led to the new E-Scooter regulations in Ireland.

Laws are being passed on the overall speed these scooters can reach and this is the first regulation that's come into play. All e-scooters will now only be able to go up to 20 kilometres per hour. Anything above that will be deemed illegal. This is because they are now classified as mechanically propelled vehicles or MPVs. That means they need to be taxed, insured and properly registered by someone who carries a legit driver's license.

What is the e-scooter register?

The Ireland bike register is there to help the authorities keep track of the growing trend of e-scooters. It makes sure that everyone remains in compliance. It's also to assist in keeping the roads safer and to help reduce the probability of having an e-scooter stolen.

E-scooters need to be registered with the Irish Bike Register. This process is completely free and it's more about safety and protection than anything else. Bicycle theft in Ireland is already a huge problem with thousands of bikes being stolen per year. Now e-scooters are joining this with record numbers of thefts as well.

To initiate this registration you must start by providing the serial number of your e-scooter along with the make and model. You also need to include contact information which will be directly tied to the e-scooter as long as it's on the registry.

Yet, at the same time, it only helps partially cover what is necessary to protect your e-scooter as much as possible. It's important to note the ownership history as well as if it's ever been stolen.

How to stop my bike from being stolen

Sadly, the thefts can happen anywhere, even if it's locked up in your backyard, as there seems to be a huge demand for them. There are some precautions you can still take to help answer the question of "how to protect my e-bike", and part of that is the bike register Ireland introduced.

Beyond that, you want to always ensure you lock up your e-scooter to a secure object, such as a lamp pole, whenever you leave it unattended. Make sure to use a durable and high-quality lock that is difficult to clip or saw through. Have the serial number engraved so it's not as easy to remove. You can also consider including a subtle GPS tracker in your e-scooter or e-bike as well. This can help the authorities when looking for your e-scooter and catch the culprits.

How we help with the new E-Scooter Regulations in Ireland

When you sign up for our premium registration at Bikelog you'll have your e-scooter properly set up in the logbook. You can also start to track its history and record if it's been stolen or when there is a change of ownership. We can also help the process if your e-scooter ends up being stolen as well. So sign up with us as soon as you’re ready to.