Diego Maldonado

Photographer

decovisionearts.visura.co

Electric Scooters and Bicycles are Harming Italy’s Capital

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Clients: GoRiverwalk Magazine Tower Forum

School: Northeastern University John Cabot University

ROME: February 21, 2024. Lime e... Tiber River near Ponte Sisto.

ROME: February 21, 2024. Lime e-bikes sink in Tiber River near Ponte Sisto.

ROME: March 17, 2024. A man and...rider per scooter policy only.

ROME: March 17, 2024. A man and his child ride Bird e-scooter crossing Lungotevere dei Sangallo. The company’s safety site prohibits minors from riding scooters. Moreover, their policy also includes a one rider per scooter policy only.

ROME: March 6, 2024. A pyramid ... sidewalk in Viale Trastevere.

ROME: March 6, 2024. A pyramid of Bird e-scooters occupies the sidewalk in Viale Trastevere.

ROME: February 14, 2024. A row ...worker sit in Piazza Trilussa.

ROME: February 14, 2024. A row of Lime e-bikes organized neatly by a company worker sit in Piazza Trilussa.

ROME: March 20, 2024. A couple ...nd helmet use for their users.

ROME: March 20, 2024. A couple rides Lime e-scooter in Largo Argentina. The scooter company prohibits having more one than rider per scooter. They also recommend helmet use for their users.

ROME: March 17, 2024. A sign at...ers and bikes from getting in.

ROME: March 17, 2024. A sign at the entrance of Museo di Roma in Palazzo Braschi prohibits scooters and bikes from getting in.

ROME: Febraury 9, 2024. A minor...to ride scooters with helmets.

ROME: Febraury 9, 2024. A minor and her parents ride e-scooters illegally in pedestrian area in Piazza Spagna at the Colonna dell'Immacolata Concezione. Italian law prohibits minors under 14 from riding scooters. Moreover, the law requires minors of 14 and above to ride scooters with helmets.

ROME: February 20, 2024. Lime e... Merito in Via Emilio Borsini.

ROME: February 20, 2024. Lime e-scooter lays in the ground outside of Ministero dell’Istruzione e del Merito in Via Emilio Borsini.

ROME: March 20, 2024. A group o...ht changes in Largo Argentina.

ROME: March 20, 2024. A group of riders using Dott e-scooters and e-bikes cross the street as traffic light changes in Largo Argentina.

ROME: January 19, 2024. E-bikes...o and Lungotevere dei Vallati.

ROME: January 19, 2024. E-bikes and e-scooter that sank in Tiber River rust on the river's sidewalk beneath Ponte Sisto and Lungotevere dei Vallati.

ROME: March 31, 2024. A young m...g while riding their scooters.

ROME: March 31, 2024. A young man rides Lime e-scooter in Viale Trastevere while using his phone. Lime's rules prohibits texting or calling while riding their scooters.

ROME: April 1, 2024. A broken e...o and Lungotevere dei Tebaldi.

ROME: April 1, 2024. A broken e-scooter lays by the river Tiber sidewalk beneath Ponte Sisto and Lungotevere dei Tebaldi.

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Public Project

Electric Scooters and Bicycles are Harming Italy’s Capital

Updated Jun 2025

Location Rome

Topics Documentary, Environment, Journalism, Photography, Technology

Summary

Explore how the rise of electric scooters and bicycles is negatively impacting Rome, Italy's historic capital. This article delves into the critical urban issues, including infrastructure damage, public safety concerns, and waste management challenges, as micromobility trends clash with the city's unique environment. Discover the urgent need for stricter regulations and sustainable urban planning to protect Rome's cultural heritage and pedestrian experience from the growing harm caused by e-scooters and e-bikes.

Electric Scooters and Bicycles are Harming Italy’s Capital
While e-vehicles attempt to solve environmental problems, they also create new problems. – By Diego Maldonado
Thematthewrome.com

By Diego Maldonado | Photoreporter

In June 2020, the micro-mobility company Lime delivered their first electric scooters and bicycles. Other e-transportation companies followed, as Bird and Dott also installed their e-vehicles. While said companies promised to lower carbon emissions in the Italian capital, according to CNN, rental e-scooters and e-bikes pollute Rome’s streets and environment. Moreover, ignorant misuse of said eco-friendly vehicles pose a safety hazard to its riders and to the public. 

According to expert Hugh Lefcort, a biology professor at Gonzaga University who specializes in ecotoxicology, the Tiber River stands polluted as the environment and public health face a problem due to the underwater batteries of said e-vehicles with e-scooters and e-bikes sunken in its waters. Varying from lithium-ion batteries, sealed lead-acid batteries, and nickel metal hydride batteries, e-vehicle batteries contain toxic substances such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel.  

Professor Lefcort also says that the negative exposure of said harmful components may impact heart contractions, affect kidneys, and cause neurological effects in mammals and marine life. 

On the surface, e-vehicles also create problems. Local Salvatore Giordono, 38, uses Dott’s e-scooters to easily move around the city, yet he believes that they create issues.  

“It’s something that starts off good, but then becomes bad,” said Giordono. “I’ve seen people park e-scooters inside churches, and I’ve told these people to use these vehicles properly and not leave them in holy places.”  

Meanwhile, some riders disregard safety laws surrounding e-scooters. According to safety regulations of Lime, Bird, and Dott, only one rider is permitted per scooter, and yet many riders break the law endangering themselves and traffic. Moreover, according to article 156 of decree 121/2021 of Italian law, minors under 14 years old are prohibited from riding e-scooters, and yet many parents ride e-scooters with their children or allow them to ride e-scooters by themselves. Furthermore, Italian law requires all riders aged 14 through 18 to wear helmets, and yet many fail to do so.  

While e-vehicles attempt to solve environmental problems, they also create new problems.  

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