Electric scooters in Cyprus. Parents also receive fines.

Electric scooters in Cyprus pose a responsibility not only for the drivers. According to police data cited by Politis, between April 22 and October 23, 2026, 33 tickets were issued to parents or guardians who failed to take the required measures to prevent children under 17 from using the devices.

During the same period, seven more tickets were issued to scooter owners or those responsible for their storage and management. The minimum age for users is now 17. The regulations have been in effect since April; the November publication provides enforcement data.

Electric scooters have only been available in Cyprus for 17 years

The age limit was raised from 14 to 17 by an amendment published on April 22, 2026. The police reminded about the changes in an official announcement on May 19.

Parents have a significant obligation to prevent children under the required age from using their devices. The fines described above apply to failure to meet this obligation.

It's not just about punishing the person caught riding. Responsibility can also extend to adults who should take action to prevent unauthorized use of the scooter.

This also applies to owners and those legally responsible for the devices. Sharing a scooter with a younger user is not permitted just because the ride is intended to be short.

Over eight thousand fines since the beginning of the year

According to the list described by Politis, from January 1 to October 23, 2026, the police issued a total of 8094 tickets for violations of regulations regarding electric scooters.

The most common violations of these categories involved riding in prohibited areas and not wearing a properly fastened helmet. Visibility violations were also common.

The data does not cover the entire year 2026. It also does not allow for an independent determination of what proportion of all users are breaking the rules – this would require information on the number of journeys and the scale of inspections.

A helmet is not enough if the route is not allowed

One of the most common mistakes is treating scooters as a means of transportation permitted on any street. Permitted areas include, among other things, appropriate cycling infrastructure and roads with a 30 km/h speed limit, subject to signage.

A street with a 50 km/h speed limit doesn't become a legal route just because a driver intends to slow down. Similarly, a wide sidewalk or seaside promenade doesn't automatically mean permission to drive.

Pedestrian areas where local authorities have approved scooters have specific restrictions. Before using the device, it's important to check the entire route, not just the scooter's availability in the app.

The changes also include technical requirements

The April amendments address not only age. The police also outline design and equipment requirements for the devices, the operation of rental companies, and the powers of law enforcement agencies and local governments.

When purchasing your own scooter, it's worth checking the model's documentation, CE marking, and declaration of conformity. These requirements also include the CYS EN 17128:2020 standard.

The seller's information about possible speed limits does not replace checking the device's compliance with regulations. The condition of the brakes, lighting, and proper helmet use are equally important.

Parents should check device access

For families, the most important conclusion from the new data is concrete: adult responsibility is already being enforced. It is not merely a precursor to future changes.

In practice, it's worth determining who has access to the scooter, the keys, or the app that allows it to be activated. This is an editorial guideline for limiting access, not a comprehensive list of actions that guarantee avoidance of liability.

Raising the age limit also means that previous habits must be adapted to the current rules. A child who was eligible to use a scooter under the previous age limit of 14 does not receive an exemption from the current age limit of 17.