"Parent Taxi 2.0": Zurich mothers and fathers are increasingly taking their children to school on electric scooters. This is prompting police action.

They're now an integral part of Zurich's streets: electric scooters and mopeds. Electric cars are everywhere: in squares, in front of train stations, and on street corners. For the mostly young users, they're a good way to get from one place to another quickly. »id-doc-1iouq3m581″

> Apparently, many Zurich parents have also discovered these vehicles – a trendy version of the classic “parent taxi.” At least, that’s the conclusion one can reach from a letter that the Zurich City Police recently sent to parents and guardians in the city. »id-doc-1iovc262m1″

> "Your children's safety is important to us," begins the letter from the municipal police's prevention service. We would therefore like to draw attention to the regulations and traffic rules that apply when using electric vehicles. It is becoming increasingly common for parents to take their children to kindergarten or school on scooters. »id-doc-1iovc4f930″

> »id-doc-1ioutm3cg0″ Evergreen School Road »Article»

is-new-line-child=> There is hardly a topic over which parents and school authorities can argue more fiercely than the route to school and how children get there. »id-doc-1iov865jk0″

> Many times, the dispute goes so far that it becomes a matter for the courts. As recently, when the administrative court had to rule on the case of a twelve-year-old child suffering from a pollen allergy, obesity, and "poor cycling skills." The parents did not want to subject their child to a two-kilometer walk to school. So they went to court. However, the court ruled that the longer journey to school was quite feasible for the twelve-year-old »p» . »true» Other parents prefer to transport their children to school themselves. A survey conducted by the Axa insurance group among 1,000 mothers and fathers in 2023 revealed that one in four children in Switzerland is driven to school once a week. »_blank »

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This is despite the fact that schools, police, and experts agree that parent taxis are not a good idea. The less children navigate traffic independently, the harder it is for them to recognize potential dangers and assert themselves in difficult situations. »Article»

The phenomenon is particularly widespread on Zurich's Gold Coast. There, mothers and fathers are regularly made aware of the problem during parents' evenings or through newsletters. The request: only take children to school in justified exceptional cases. »Article»

There is also a gap between German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland. In German-speaking Switzerland, almost 20% of respondents drove their child to school at least once a week; in French-speaking Switzerland, the number was higher, almost half of all respondents. The reason: concerns about children on the way to school are greater in French-speaking Switzerland than in the German-speaking part of the country. »Article»

is-new-line-child= »id-doc-1iov8g0lh0″> »Article » Students need a «Mofa-ausweis» »p »

In Zurich, the "Parent Taxi 2.0" in the form of scooters and electric scooters has now brought in the police. But not because they want to encourage students to come to school alone. The reason is different: in response to a survey, the municipal police wrote that teachers had observed an increasing number of illegal uses near school buildings. »subtitle»

componenttype=is-new-line-child= »id-doc-1iovap67i0″> However, it is unclear how many violations have been committed in recent months. The municipal police write that they do not keep statistics on this subject or on the number of fines issued. However, it often happens that several people are transported in the same vehicle or that children under 14 years old travel in the cars. »Article»

To draw attention to the rules in force, the police will be present in school buildings as part of traffic regulations. Even though they are seeing more problems with electric scooters, this is not the reason for the letter to parents. Rather, the letter was written as a preventative measure. »Article»

In the letter to parents, the municipal police also explains how electric scooters and scooters should be used correctly. Electric scooters can only be used by one person at a time, they cannot be driven on sidewalks, and children under 14 are prohibited from using them. The police also recommend that all users wear a helmet. People aged 14 to 16 require a category M driving license. This is the same as for mopeds. »p » rel= »id-doc-1iovguan51″ target= »Article »>Learn more »p »