Greece drafts law on sustainable urban mobility plans, micromobility

Municipalities in Greece will need to adopt sustainable urban mobility plans, according to a draft law, which is also aimed at regulating micromobility – scooters and other electric devices. Drivers should be able to conduct vehicle transfers and renew licenses via mobile applications.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport of Greece presented its draft law on sustainable urban mobility plans and micromobility to the Ministerial Council. The legislation package covers the development of public transportation, road safety and the digitalization of license issuance, vehicle transfers and the harmonization with European regulations.

Officials indicated the draft would be published for public consultation soon before a bill is sent to parliament.

Institutions were stuck for several years due to overlapping jurisdiction and the lack of an interdisciplinary approach

The move follows years of efforts to make an umbrella law as there was overlapping jurisdiction with the Ministry of Environment and Energy. Another question was whether sustainable urban mobility plans should be transportation, environmental or spatial studies and if the issues could be solved with an interdisciplinary approach.

The ministry revealed its work also encompassed parking management, the supply chain, intelligent transportation systems, water transportation and incentives.

First national-wide rules for SUMPs

According to the draft, local authorities in Greece will need to prepare their sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs) to facilitate environmentally friendly solutions including the promotion of micromobility. The government is establishing rules on the national level for the development of the said documents.

The law is aimed at standardizing the approval process for sustainable urban mobility plans so that the procedure is simplified.

Karamanlis: The government will help local authorities to gain access to funds

The government said citizens would be able to conduct vehicle transfers and renew driving licenses via mobile applications. Minister Kostas Karamanlis stressed local governments would be encouraged to get access to financial tools for the programs and that the institutional framework for SUMPs is a priority for his ministry.

Στην εποχή της κλιματικής αλλαγής, όπου προωθούνται οι εναλλακτικές μορφές μετακίνησης, όπως η ηλεκτροκίνηση και το ποδήλατο, το Υπουργείο μας θέτει στο επίκεντρο του σχεδιασμού του τον ανασχεδιασμό του θεσμικού πλαισίου για τα ΣΒΑΚ (Σχέδια Βιώσιμης Αστικής Κινητικότητας). 1/4 pic.twitter.com/cy0yivKXeO

— Κώστας Καραμανλής (@karamanlis_k) September 30, 2020

Greece to regulate micromobility devices

The micromobility segment covers electric scooters, rollerblades, skateboards and self-balancing personal transporters, such as Segway. They will be designated as light personal electric vehicles. The draft envisages specifications for brakes, lights and audible warnings.

Electric vehicles with speeds of up to 25 kilometers per hour are being placed in the same category as bicycles

The ministry said those with speeds of up to six kilometers per hour can be used in pedestrian zones, while that devices with a maximum of 25 kilometers per hour would be in the same category as bicycles. It means they can’t be driven on roads with maximum speed limits of more than 50 kilometers per hour.

Helmets are becoming mandatory. The document adds children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by persons that are at least 16 when driving on roads where motor vehicles are allowed.

At least one electric vehicle charging point per 1,000 people

Separately, the Green Fund said technical instructions for electric vehicle charging plans have been completed and that it would financially support local authorities. Large and medium-sized municipalities must produce the documents by the end of March 2021 while small units have one year more than that.

The statement adds existing plans such as SUMPs must be taken into account. Local authorities must facilitate the installation of at least one charging point per 1,000 inhabitants. The Green Fund said it has EUR 7 million in the budget for the effort and that it would issue a public call this month.