Starting this Friday, the 28th, São Paulo establishes a new set of regulations for individual electric vehicles, including electric scooters and bicycles. These guidelines specify the permitted areas for each equipment's circulation and define the respective speed limits.
Although the new rules are in effect from the 28th, official enforcement will only begin on October 12th. Until that date, the City Hall will promote awareness campaigns and provide guidance to users regarding the new requirements.
Circulation restrictions for scooters and unicycles
Electric scooters, electric unicycles, and standing skates are prohibited from circulating on sidewalks or areas designated exclusively for pedestrians.
On bike paths, cycle lanes, and cycle routes, the established speed limit is 20 km/h. However, when sharing space with pedestrians, this limit is reduced to 6 km/h.
On streets and avenues, these devices are restricted to roads whose speed limit does not exceed 40 km/h, and the scooter itself cannot exceed 20 km/h.
For electric bicycles on dedicated bike paths and cycle lanes located on the roadway, the maximum permitted speed is 20 km/h, dropping to 6 km/h in areas shared with pedestrians.
If no bicycle infrastructure is available, circulation is authorized on streets with a limit of up to 50 km/h, provided the bicycle stays close to the edge of the lane and travels in the same direction as other vehicles.
The same circulation rules apply to traditional bicycles. They remain banned on highways without shoulders or dedicated lanes and on high-speed traffic roads, except in situations provided for sports bicycles.
Definition and regulation of vehicles
According to the National Traffic Council (Contran), an electric bicycle is characterized by having an auxiliary motor of up to 1,000 watts, which only operates while the rider is pedaling. The use of an accelerator is prohibited, and the motor assistance must be deactivated once the vehicle reaches 32 km/h.
The regulation also covers self-propelled individual mobility equipment, whether ridden seated or standing, including certain models of electric scooters that do not qualify as mopeds.
These vehicles can use bike paths and cycle lanes at a speed of up to 20 km/h. In the absence of bicycle infrastructure, circulation is permitted on roads with a limit of up to 50 km/h, with a maximum of 6 km/h in areas shared with pedestrians.
It is important to note that mopeds are not included in this municipal regulation. This category includes two or three-wheeled vehicles with an electric motor of up to 4 kW or an internal combustion engine of up to 50 cc, limited to a maximum manufacturing speed of 50 km/h. They must comply with national traffic regulations, which implies registration, licensing, helmet, and driver's license.
The City Hall published this regulation on August 14th, following a public consultation period held between May and June, based on Contran Resolution 996.
In the specific case of the Rio Pinheiros Bike Path, the City Hall will not enforce the rules, as the path is under the jurisdiction of the state government, which is responsible for defining inspection procedures there.