The restriction applies not only to pedestrians but also to cyclists, roller skaters and users of scooters and electric scooters – all of whom can use the sidewalks. NThis provision aims to avoid frequent collisions.
“The main goal is to increase safety on sidewalks in light of the increasing number of collisions with scooter drivers,” said the author of the amendment, Ľubomír Vážny from Prime Minister Robert Fico's left-populist Smer party, which is part of the ruling coalition.
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As the legislator states, the amendment adopted by parliament will be useful in proving traffic violations, “especially in cases where it is necessary to objectively determine whether its participants were moving faster than what is considered an appropriate speed in areas intended mainly for pedestrians“.
Although the law goes into effect on January 1, 2026, supporters have not publicly stated how they plan to enforce it.
Average walking speed is usually between 4 and 5 km per hour. However, the British Heart Foundation states that a pace of 6.4 kilometers per hour is considered moderate for a person in excellent fitness.
The opposition criticized this change, and even the Slovak Ministry of Interior stated that It would be more appropriate to ban e-scooters from sidewalks than to introduce a general speed limit.
Martin Pekár from the opposition liberal party Progressive Slovakia said that pedestrians are exposed to danger from cars, not cyclists or scooters, and the amendment penalizes sustainable transport.
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“If we want to reduce the number of collisions, we need more safe bike lanes, not absurd restrictions that are physically impossible to follow,” Pekár said. “At the mentioned speed, the cyclist has difficulty maintaining his balance,” he added.
The change in road traffic regulations caused a wave of amusement on social media. Some netizens wondered whether running to catch a bus could result in a fine.
