Latest news with #LuluRanne
Arab Times
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Arab Times
Finland bans e-scooter use for children under 15
HELSINKI, June 17: Finland on Tuesday implemented a ban on electric scooter use by children under the age of 15, as part of new legislation aimed at tightening regulations on micromobility. The new rules also require e-scooter rental companies to obtain municipal licences to continue their operations. The legislation, passed by Finland's parliament last month, aligns with a broader European trend of increasing oversight on e-scooters, whose rapid rise in popularity has led to safety concerns. Countries such as Italy now require e-scooter riders to wear helmets and carry insurance, while cities like Paris and Madrid have banned e-scooter rentals altogether. "This is a situation that has got completely out of hand, and now it just needs to be brought under control," said Transport and Communications Minister Lulu Ranne in an interview with Reuters. "I hope that in this way we can enjoy scootering safely and according to the rules, and at the same time save lives," she added. According to Finnish authorities, approximately 1,600 people suffer serious injuries in e-scooter accidents annually. Over the past five years, at least six fatalities have occurred, and around 600 children have required hospital care for scooter-related injuries. The updated legislation also introduces new safety measures. E-scooter riders will now be subject to the same blood alcohol limits as drivers of motor vehicles and are banned from riding under the influence of drugs. Additionally, a maximum speed limit of 25 kilometers per hour (15.5 miles per hour) has been set, according to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom). Several international e-scooter rental firms currently operate in Finland, including U.S.-based Lime (a subsidiary of Neutron Holdings), Sweden's Voi Technology, Norway's Ryde Technology, and Germany's Tier Mobility. It remains unclear how the new licensing requirement will impact their operations in Finnish cities. The Ministry of Transport and Communications stated that companies failing to comply with the new age restrictions could face fines. Parents may also be held responsible if they knowingly allow underage children to operate e-scooters.
Reuters
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Finland bans e-scooters for children, requires licences for rental companies
HELSINKI, June 17 (Reuters) - Finland introduced a ban on the use of electric scooters by children under the age of 15 on Tuesday, and scooter rental companies will now require municipal licences to continue offering their services. The legislation on so-called micromobility approved by parliament last month is part of a broader ramping up of regulations on e-scooters in Europe, where their use has expanded rapidly in recent years. Italy, for example, has mandated that e-scooter riders wear helmets and possess insurance, while authorities in Paris and Madrid have banned e-scooter rental services. "This is a situation that has got completely out of hand, and now it just needs to be brought under control," Lulu Ranne, Finland's transport and communications minister, told Reuters. "I hope that in this way we can enjoy scootering safely and according to the rules, and at the same time save lives," she added. Finnish authorities estimate that around 1,600 people are seriously injured annually in accidents involving e-scooters. There have been at least six deadly incidents in the past five years, they say, and some 600 children sustained injuries that required hospital care during the same period. The new legislation also makes e-scooter users subject to the same blood alcohol limits applied to automobile drivers, bans their use while under the influence of drugs, and sets a maximum speed limit of 25 kph (15.5 mph), Finnish transport and communications agency Traficom said. E-scooter rental companies operating in Finland include U.S.-based Neutron Holding's Lime, Sweden's Voi Technology, Norwegian firm Ryde Technology and Germany's Tier Mobility. It was not immediately clear how the licencing requirement would affect their operations in Finland. Companies can face fines if they do not respect the new age limit, the ministry said, and liability for knowingly allowing underage driving can also fall upon parents.
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Finland bans e-scooters for children, requires licences for rental companies
HELSINKI - Finland introduced a ban on the use of electric scooters by children under the age of 15 on Tuesday, and scooter rental companies will now require municipal licences to continue offering their services. The legislation on so-called micromobility approved by parliament last month is part of a broader ramping up of regulations on e-scooters in Europe, where their use has expanded rapidly in recent years. Italy, for example, has mandated that e-scooter riders wear helmets and possess insurance, while authorities in Paris and Madrid have banned e-scooter rental services. "This is a situation that has got completely out of hand, and now it just needs to be brought under control," Lulu Ranne, Finland's transport and communications minister, told Reuters. "I hope that in this way we can enjoy scootering safely and according to the rules, and at the same time save lives," she added. Finnish authorities estimate that around 1,600 people are seriously injured annually in accidents involving e-scooters. There have been at least six deadly incidents in the past five years, they say, and some 600 children sustained injuries that required hospital care during the same period. The new legislation also makes e-scooter users subject to the same blood alcohol limits applied to automobile drivers, bans their use while under the influence of drugs, and sets a maximum speed limit of 25 kph (15.5 mph), Finnish transport and communications agency Traficom said. E-scooter rental companies operating in Finland include U.S.-based Neutron Holding's Lime, Sweden's Voi Technology, Norwegian firm Ryde Technology and Germany's Tier Mobility. It was not immediately clear how the licencing requirement would affect their operations in Finland. Companies can face fines if they do not respect the new age limit, the ministry said, and liability for knowingly allowing underage driving can also fall upon parents. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Finland to adopt EU rail gauge for security, integration
HELSINKI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Finland will convert its railway gauge to the European standard to boost military mobility, regional connectivity and security, Transport Minister Lulu Ranne announced on Tuesday. The decision, unveiled at a Nordic transport ministers' meeting in Helsinki, signals a unified Nordic effort to enhance defense readiness and logistical coordination. Finland currently uses the 1,524 mm "Russian gauge," wider than the 1,435 mm European standard, creating compatibility issues with neighboring Sweden and Norway - an increasing concern amid evolving defense needs. The shift aligns with the European Union's (EU's) revised TEN-T Regulation, requiring non-standard member states to draft interoperability plans. Finland will finalize its national decision by July 2027, with construction expected to begin around 2032, starting in the north near Oulu. Ranne said EU funding could cover up to 50 percent of planning and 30 percent of construction costs. Interoperability upgrades are already underway. In early 2025, the cross-border rail link between Haparanda in Sweden and Tornio in Finland was fully electrified and equipped with a dual-gauge system for both countries' trains.
Russia Today
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Nordic state to invest millions in ‘war railway'
Finland has allocated €20 million for the planning of a new railway line connecting the Nordic nation with neighboring Sweden and Norway that would facilitate the movement of NATO military equipment in the event of war, according to the newspaper Iltalehti. Helsinki abandoned its longstanding policy of neutrality and joined the US-led military bloc in April 2023, citing security concerns over the Ukraine conflict. Sweden followed suit in 2024, citing the same reasons. In response, Moscow vowed to beef up its defensive posture in northwestern Russia. In the article on Wednesday, Iltalehti, citing anonymous government sources, claimed that the rail project is getting underway now that the Finnish government has earmarked the funds for its planning. According to the publication, the cost of the entire undertaking will likely run into billions of euros, with actual construction work expected to 'take place well into the 2030s.' The article further claimed that the Finnish government is hoping to secure European Union funding for the project. Explaining the need for the railway project in an interview to Iltalehti back in November, Finland's minister of transport and communications, Lulu Ranne cited a perceived Russian threat. 'Tanks and cannons must be able to be moved in any situation,' she emphasized at the time. According to a NATO policy update published last month, the bloc is 'continuing to integrate [its] newest members – Finland and Sweden – into plans, forces, and command structures, including by developing a presence in Finland.' Earlier this week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that with NATO military infrastructure having been 'gradually appearing on Finnish territory' in recent years, Moscow is taking 'measures to improve its security that our military deems necessary.' Speaking to French weekly Le Point, he emphasized that Russia never had 'any problems' with Finland or Sweden joining NATO, and has no intention of attacking them. Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected allegations that Moscow harbors any aggressive intentions toward NATO countries, calling them 'nonsense' designed to alarm Western Europeans and legitimize major increases in defense budgets.
