Colombia's Ministry of Transport introduced new regulations in July 2026 requiring helmets and identification plates for electric scooters and bicycles [1].
The measures address a growing public safety crisis as micromobility vehicles become more common in urban centers. Officials are prioritizing these rules to reduce the frequency of fatal accidents involving light electric vehicles on city streets.
The new normativa establishes strict technical requirements, mandatory helmet use, and the installation of a license plate or identifying label [1, 2]. These rules apply nationwide, though the government is placing a specific emphasis on enforcement within Bogotá and Bucaramanga [2, 3].
The push for regulation follows a spike in road fatalities. In Bogotá, six people died in accidents involving electric scooters and bicycles during 2025 [4]. The urgency increased following the recent death of a young person who died after colliding with a bus [4].
These safety mandates fall under the broader regulatory framework of Law 2486 of 2025, which governs electric motorcycles and scooters [5]. The law allows the government to define circulation zones, and implement fines for users who fail to meet the technical and safety standards [1, 2].
By requiring identification plates, authorities intend to improve accountability and track vehicles involved in traffic incidents. The Ministry of Transport said the rules are necessary to integrate these vehicles into the formal transport system while protecting the lives of riders and pedestrians [1].
“Colombia's Ministry of Transport introduced new regulations in July 2026 requiring helmets and identification plates.”
This regulatory shift signals Colombia's transition from treating electric scooters as toys or leisure items to recognizing them as legitimate urban transport. By imposing technical standards and identification, the state is attempting to mitigate the 'wild west' era of micromobility, where a lack of oversight contributed to rising fatalities in densely populated cities like Bogotá.
