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After several incidents that revealed the arbitrary use of so-called ‘scooters’ or monoclets in areas where their transit is prohibited, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution to prevent the proliferation of companies dedicated to renting this type vehicle and look for alternatives to its regulations.
“We don’t understand why we can observe the use of these vehicles on public roads in many tourist areas of Puerto Rico”Read the commentary for Senate resolution 86, written by Senator Nitza Morán Trinidad.
The most recent incident took place on Sunday, in which a woman is sighted on a ‘scooter’ on Baldorioty de Castro Avenue, in San Juan, a road where the use of monoclets is prohibited via a video circulating on social networks. defined in the “Vehicle and Traffic Act” (Law 22-2000).
“We have all seen the images of a tourist who apparently got encouraged and did not throw himself on the sidewalk or on the street but on the Baldorioty de Castro and we have seen them walk over the Minillas bridge, which means that they are already practically on motor vehicles. the public road “, stated Senator for San Juan, Henry Neumann.
The measure emphasizes that while the “Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act” allows municipalities to regulate certain uses of the streets and public highways under their jurisdiction, the law emphasizes that in those to whom motorcycles or scooters are referred, these ” cannot drive on highways, state highways or other public, state or municipal roads that are asphalted. “
Deputy New Progressive Party (PNP) spokesperson Carmelo Ríos reaffirmed the need to regulate this type of transport. He added that more than 100 cities in the United States work with similar situations. “There are certainly some obstacles to interstate trade and development that we will not be able to stop, but we can regulate them to ensure the safety of passers-by”, He said.
He added that these ‘scooters’ are being introduced to the market to replace the use of motor vehicles in urban areas and are aimed at young people between the ages of 18 and 35, as well as those who do not use modes of transport such as Uber. and Lyft.
One alternative to regulating this practice could be to limit its use to areas where transport is required due to lack of parking. “I think we have to be pretty fast,” said Ríos.
Currently, Section 10.16 of the aforementioned statute provides that any person riding a mobility scooter on a public highway, be it the state or the municipality, will commit a minor offense and will be punished with a $ 1,000 fine of up to up to $ 5,000 as negligence or reckless recklessness.
The Senator for the Citizen Victory Movement (MVC), Rafael Bernabe indicated that while he is in favor of research into the use of these new forms of mobility, it should not be based on the premise of their illegality or with the mindset to see “how we stop it”. “The research should aim to explore these new forms of mobility with an open mind and study to see whether they should be banned or existing regulations changed,” he said.