The Danish think tank Tænketanken Trafiksikkerhed is calling for a ban on electric scooters and other small electric vehicles on Danish roads and bike lanes, arguing that seven years of trial schemes have shown them to be too dangerous.
The recommendation was reported on August 30, 2026, by DR. The think tank, which works to improve safety for vulnerable road users, wants the two trial schemes covering the vehicles to be brought to an end. Its members include a number of leading experts in traffic and traffic safety.
Harry Lahrmann, deputy chairman of the think tank and a traffic researcher at Aalborg University, told DR that the schemes should be concluded. Per Lahrmann, electric scooters are simply too dangerous in traffic and should be sent back to playgrounds, as was the case before the trials began.
What the experts point to
According to the think tank, research and evaluations from the Danish Road Traffic Authority, Færdselsstyrelsen, have repeatedly shown that riding the small motorized vehicles is markedly more dangerous. Lahrmann also points to the design of the scooters themselves. Their small wheels can catch in holes, and riders have a weaker grip because there is no saddle or pedals.
He adds that the risk is not limited to the riders. Many different vehicle types now share the bike lanes, and they all behave differently, which the think tank considers unfavorable for safety in general.
Electric scooters became legal in Danish traffic in January 2019. The two trial schemes both started on January 1, 2019, and the vehicles are legal as long as they cannot exceed 20 kilometers per hour under their own power and the rider wears a helmet. The helmet requirement became mandatory in 2022.
To accommodate people who have already bought an electric scooter, the think tank suggests a phase-out arrangement over some years. For the remaining small electric vehicles, including electric skateboards and hoverboards, it recommends an immediate ban.
Politicians open to review, not a ban
Frida Bruun, transport spokesperson for the Moderates, told DR that evaluating the trial schemes can make sense, but that openness to new forms of transport matters. She said the vehicles should not be banned outright, noting that riders make up a small share of those injured in traffic.
Mai Mercado, transport spokesperson for the Conservatives, also rejects a ban. As reported by DR, she said many people use the vehicles legally for work or education, and warned of a harder impact in rural districts. She welcomes the debate but prefers changes to closing the schemes.
Leila Stockmarr, transport spokesperson for Enhedslisten, does not rule out a ban. She said scooters are not the only problem, and that a more thorough review is needed of which vehicles belong in the bike lanes.
Minister for Urban, Rural and Transport Affairs Signe Munk of SF declined an interview. In a written reply to DR, she said the trial scheme is gathering important experience, that no expiry date has been set, and that she expects a discussion at a later point.
Save up to 2,800 DKK on Your Electricity Bill
FindElpriser helps you switch electricity providers quickly and easily.
The vehicles remain legal under the existing rules while the schemes continue. Cyclists, mopeds and scooters are also covered by the general rules for road use in Denmark.
