JAKARTA — City officials in Jakarta will ban the use of electric scooters on sidewalks and pedestrian bridges, following the deaths of two users in a traffic accident earlier this week.

The Grabwheels service, a rental scheme by ride-hailing company Grab Indonesia, came under fire after two users were hit by a car outside the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex on Monday morning.

The fatal accident prompted the Jakarta Transportation Agency — which is currently drafting a regulation to ensure the safety of the Grabwheels users — to meet representatives from Grab Indonesia to discuss the e-scooter operations, the Jakarta Post reported.

“We have talked with the operator of the e-scooters and we agreed in order to guarantee the safety and comfort of pedestrians, we will allow more room for them by prohibiting e-scooters from running on sidewalks and pedestrian bridges,” said Mr Syafrin Liputo, the agency head at the Jakarta Transportation Agency.

As part of the restrictions, the Grabwheels service is allowed to operate only in specific areas, such as the GBK. The restrictions apply not only to GrabWheels but also to privately-owned e-scooters, the Jakarta Post reported.

Users must use the bike lanes instead of the sidewalks when they exit the GBK compound, and must not mix with other vehicles on the streets.

Mr Syafrin added that the public would be discouraged from using their e-scooters during the city’s Car Free Day events, while the Jakarta Transportation Agency will restrict the rental hours of the Grabwheels service from 5am to 11pm.

According to the Jakarta Post, the city administration plans to fine users if they violate the rights of pedestrians. If found guilty, violators could be jailed for two months and fined Rp500,000 (S$49).

Jakarta’s move comes on the heels of authorities in Singapore banning e-scooters from footpaths and scrapping plans to offer e-scooter-sharing licences in the country.

Other major cities have also taken a stance against the use of such devices.

In Paris, France, e-scooters are banned from sidewalks and offenders can face a fine of 135 euros (S$203). Spain’s Madrid also bans electric scooters in pedestrian areas and from roads which have speed limits in excess of 50kph.

In the United Kingdom, e-scooters are illegal on public roads, bike lanes and sidewalks, with violators facing a fine of 300 pounds (S$530).

Some cities in the United States have also imposed restrictions on e-scooters. AGENCIES