The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Mr.Yannis Karousos, attended the meeting of the Committee on Transport, Communications and Works of the House of Representatives, during which he informed the members of the Committee on a number of issues related to the responsibilities of the Ministry.
In particular, the legislative package regulating the movement of Personal Mobility Devices (scooters), the amendments promoted to the Driving Licence and Access to the Road Transport Profession Laws, as well as the problems faced by taxi drivers with the fixing of a fixed fare were discussed.
1. Legislative package to regulate the movement of Personal Mobility Devices (scooter-type) - Bill entitled "The Regulation of the Movement of Bicycles and Other Personal Mobility Devices (Amendment) Act, 2021"
Pending the adoption of a common European regulation governing the use of scooters or e-scooters as a means of transport in the micro-mobility category, Cyprus is proceeding with the adoption of a national, interim legislative regulation.
The choice of parameters has been made with a view to ensuring road safety and concern:
- Place of circulation: cycle track, cycle lane or an area that is an extension of a cycle path (an area shared by cyclists and pedestrians, in a square or pavement only after a decision by the municipality or community concerned).
- Age of users: 16 years and over.
- Personal protective equipment for use: compulsory use of a helmet.
- Minimum equipment of the device: brake system, front and rear lights, bell, tyres.
- Maximum speed of the device: 15 km per hour.
The bill also includes provisions on the market (specific obligations of importers/manufacturers/sellers on minimum equipment and maximum speed), on existing Devices, on the licensing of Device rental companies, offences and penalties, etc.
2.Amendments to the Driver's License Act
The Bill seeks to regulate the following:
- Specifying limiting the duration of a learner's permit driver's license to two years from the date of issuance: At the end of the period of validity of the learner's permit, the driver, if not obtaining a regular driver's license, will be required to undergo the process of examination and issuance of the learner's permit again.
- Addressing the issue of driving mopeds and motorcycles on the road network by a person holding only a learner's permit: under the bill, driving a moped and motorcycle by a learner is permitted only [/B] when accompanied by a licensed instructor and wearing protective equipment, specifically:
i) Helmet,
ii) Jacket or vest with fluorescent stripes,
iii) Trousers and boots or shoes,
iv) Protective knee and elbow pads, gloves and back and hip protectors.
- Specifying requirements for protective clothing when riding a moped or motorcycle for business purposes (e.g. The professional driver of a moped or motorcycle shall wear:
i) Helmet
ii) Jacket or vest with luminous stripes,
iii) Trousers and boots or shoes,
iv) Protective knee pads and elbow pads, gloves and back and hip protectors, and
v) Airbag/airbag vest, specific for moped/motorcycle.
The equipment is provided by the direct or indirect employer of the driver.
At the same time, Mr. Karousos informed the members of the Parliamentary Committee that the Budget of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works includes an amount of €1.050 million.
Finally, the Minister said that it is estimated that by the end of this year, motorcycles will have to undergo a technical inspection in a similar way to that of cars. The aim, according to Mr. Caruso, is to check the suitability of motorcycles in order to ensure to a greater extent the safety of motorcyclists on the road network.
- Removal of the legal ambiguity concerning the criminalisation of the offence of employing an employee to drive a vehicle without the employee holding a normal driving licence for the category of vehicle he is driving for the purposes of his work.
3.Amendments to the Access to the Occupation of Road Transport Operator Act
The Bill as introduced regulates the meaning of "group of passengers" and specifies that a group of passengers includes at least eight passengers, not including the driver. The regulation of this issue has been a long-standing request of taxi associations, as part of their more general call for a crackdown on piracy in their industry, as there was ambiguity as to the number of persons considered to be a group of passengers. The result of this was the creation of unfair and unfair competition to taxis by the inclusion of minibuses that were used as quasi-taxis without being categorised as taxis.
4. Problems faced by taxi drivers - setting a fixed fare
The aim of setting a fixed fare to and from airports was to solve the long-standing problem of providing adequate information to visitors/tourists in Cyprus and the travelling public in general. The setting of fixed fares aims to give credibility to taxi transport, but also to improve professionalism and increase passenger traffic in this sector and was based on similar practices applied in many foreign countries. According to the results of the adoption of the fixed fare policy so far, it appears that the practice is largely implemented and is achieving its purpose.
In conclusion, the Minister of Transport mentioned the procurement of a special road inspection vehicle, which will be used to inspect the road network and quickly and automatically record damage to it. In the same context, the Ministry, in cooperation with the Centre of Excellence "KOIOS", is in the process of preparing an application for smart phones, through which road users themselves will be able to inform the relevant Departments and Services about damage detected on the road network, for its immediate correction.
(MKY)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
