Oslo city officials and electric scooter companies agreed on new safety measures Monday. The changes aim to reduce illegal and careless riding throughout the city.
Companies Voi, Ryde, and Bolt will implement several immediate changes. These include reducing maximum speeds by 10 percent and limiting acceleration.
Users will face stricter training requirements and lower thresholds for temporary bans. The companies will also enforce existing sidewalk riding prohibitions more strictly.
"The measures they're presenting now will be implemented immediately," said Oslo's Environment and Transport Councilor Marit Vea in a statement.
The Voi app experienced technical issues Monday afternoon during system updates. Company officials confirmed they were making technical adjustments related to the new agreement.
"That's likely why the app is unavailable right now, but we hope to resolve it shortly," said Voi Norway's communications chief.
The city government decided last autumn to double the number of available rental e-scooters. Since April, the number increased from 8,000 to 16,000 devices.
Accident statistics have risen dramatically since the expansion. Over a thousand people have received treatment for e-scooter injuries in Oslo this year alone. This represents more than double last year's figures.
The sudden policy reversal suggests officials underestimated the safety impact of doubling scooter numbers. While accessibility improved, public safety appears to have been compromised in the process.