Bike, e-bike and e-scooter road rules
The Swiss rules for riding a bike, a slow or fast e-bike, or an e-scooter: age, licence, helmet, number plate, lights, where to ride, and alcohol.
Key facts
- No e-vehicle under 14. Slow e-bikes (25 km/h) and e-scooters (20 km/h): category M licence from 14 to 16, no licence from 16. Fast e-bikes (45 km/h): always a licence (at least category M).
- Helmet: compulsory only on fast e-bikes; strongly recommended on everything else.
- Lights on, day and night, on all e-bikes and e-scooters.
- Number plate: only fast e-bikes (yellow plate, insurance). Ordinary bikes, slow e-bikes and e-scooters have none, and the old bike vignette no longer exists.
- Pavements are off-limits for all e-vehicles and for adult cyclists, unless signs allow it. Children up to 12 may cycle on the pavement where there is no cycle lane or path.
1. Which vehicle is which
| E-scooter | Slow e-bike | Fast e-bike | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top speed | 20 km/h | 25 km/h (pedal assist) | 45 km/h with pedal assist |
| Minimum age | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Licence | Cat. M from 14 to 16; none from 16 | Cat. M from 14 to 16; none from 16 | Always (at least cat. M) |
| Helmet | Recommended | Recommended | Compulsory (EN 1078 at least) |
| Lights | On day and night | On day and night | On day and night |
| Plate and insurance | No | No | Yellow plate, registration, insurance |
| Passengers | Never | Allowed with proper seats (rules apply) | Allowed with proper seats (rules apply) |
Fast e-bikes also need a speedometer. Many e-scooters sold online do not meet Swiss approval rules and cannot be used on public roads (ASTRA). In Vaud, a fast e-bike plate is requested from the cantonal vehicle office (link below).
Ordinary bikes: no age limit or licence. They need two brakes, white and red reflectors and reflectors on the pedals. In the dark, rain, fog and tunnels you need a steady white front light and red rear light. A helmet is recommended, not compulsory.
2. Where to ride
- Cycle paths and lanes are compulsory where they exist, for bikes, slow e-bikes and e-scooters.
- Fast e-bikes must also use them, unless a sign says mopeds may choose (optional) or are banned.
- No pavements for e-vehicles, e-scooters included, unless signs allow it. E-scooter riders follow the same traffic rules as cyclists.
- Children up to 12 may ride a bike on the pavement when there is no cycle lane or path, giving way to pedestrians.
- Posted speed limits (for example 30 zones) apply to everyone.
3. Alcohol
- In Swiss road law, you are drunk from 0.5 per mille blood alcohol (0.25 mg/l breath); from 0.8 per mille (0.4 mg/l) it is a qualified (more serious) offence.
- Bikes, slow e-bikes (up to 25 km/h) and e-scooters count as non-motor vehicles: riding one while unfit to ride is punishable.
- Fast e-bikes count as motor vehicles, so the motor-vehicle drink-driving rules apply.
- The 0.1 per mille zero-tolerance rule for learner drivers and probationary licence holders is explained on Alcohol, cannabis and tobacco rules in Vaud. It does not apply to probationary licence holders riding a vehicle of category M (which includes fast e-bikes): there the general 0.5 per mille limit applies (OCR art. 2a).
4. Insurance, fines, parking, theft and rentals
- Liability: with no bike vignette, damage you cause on a bike is covered by your private liability (RC) insurance. Check your policy: Household and RC insurance.
- Fixed fines for cyclists and riders: Fines and tickets in Vaud.
- Parking and theft: Bike parking and theft.
- Rented Lime e-bikes and the EPFL discount: Getting around.