Does Rio de Janeiro's e-scooter decree apply in Maringá?

No. Decree No. 57.823/2026 is specific to Rio de Janeiro. Maringá follows its own Municipal Law No. 11.981/2025, with rules on maximum speed on bike lanes (20 km/h), sidewalks (6 km/h), and required equipment. Always check your city's regulations before riding.

Do I need a driver's license to ride an e-scooter in Rio after the new decree?

No. Electric scooters up to 32 km/h remain exempt from driver's licenses, license plates, and vehicle registration across Brazil per CONTRAN Resolution 996/2023. Rio's decree increased restrictions only for mopeds, not lightweight e-scooters.

What is the speed limit for e-scooters on Maringá's bike lanes?

The limit is 20 km/h on bike lanes and bike paths per Maringá's Municipal Law No. 11.981/2025. On sidewalks, plazas, and parks, the maximum is 6 km/h to protect pedestrians.

Does an e-scooter need a speed indicator in Maringá?

Yes. Maringá's Municipal Law No. 11.981/2025 requires a speed indicator, helmet, bell, and night lighting. These components ensure compliance with local regulations.

Does Rio's decree affect e-scooter prices or availability in Brazil?

Not directly. The decree regulates use, not sales. E-scooters remain available per CONTRAN Resolution 996/2023 nationwide with the same technical limits (32 km/h, 1,000 W).

Rio de Janeiro E-Scooter Decree 2026: What Changes for Maringá

In April 2026, Rio de Janeiro published Municipal Decree No. 57.823, establishing clear rules for e-scooters, electric bicycles, and mopeds in the capital. The measure came after months of debate on traffic safety and urban micro-mobility integration. But here's the key point: each city can have its own rules. In Maringá, we have Municipal Law No. 11.981/2025, which already regulates e-scooter use with well-defined criteria. This post shows you what Rio did, how Maringá differs, and why you should always check local regulations before riding.

What Rio's Decree Establishes for E-Scooters and Electric Bicycles

Decree No. 57.823/2026 from Rio permits e-scooters and electric bicycles to circulate on bike lanes, with specific speed limits. The major update is clarity on infrastructure: in the absence of bike lanes, e-scooters and bicycles must travel on the right shoulder of the road, following traffic flow.

Helmets remain mandatory for all users. Unlike mopeds (which now require license plates, driver's license category A, and protective goggles/visor), lightweight electric scooters — those up to 1,000 W and 32 km/h — remain exempt from registration and licensing. This applies both in Rio and Maringá.

Mopeds Face Stricter Rules in Rio; Lightweight E-Scooters Remain Unrestricted

Rio's major change was regulating mopeds, not e-scooters. Mopeds now require license plates, driver's license category A, helmets with visors or protective goggles, and are prohibited on bike lanes. Only one passenger is allowed.

E-scooters classified as self-propelled equipment (up to 1,000 W, maximum 32 km/h, up to 1.30 m wide) do not face these restrictions. This is because CONTRAN Resolution 996/2023 classifies them as lightweight mobility equipment, not motorized vehicles. Viral videos spread false panic about driver's licenses and vehicle registration — neither is required for electric scooters within these limits.

How Maringá Regulates E-Scooters: Municipal Law No. 11.981/2025

Maringá already has its own regulation, approved in 2025. Municipal Law No. 11.981/2025 establishes clear rules:

Bike lanes and bike paths: maximum 20 km/h
Sidewalks, plazas, and parks: maximum 6 km/h
Shared traffic roads: permitted only on roads with speed limits up to 40 km/h
Required equipment: helmet, speed indicator, bell, night lighting
Prohibited: expressways or roads with high-speed limits

Our regulation is more restrictive than federal standards in some areas — and that's positive. The speed reduction on bike lanes (20 km/h) improves coexistence with traditional cyclists. The 6 km/h limit on sidewalks protects pedestrians.

Federal Foundation Remains Solid: CONTRAN Resolution 996/2023

Above any municipal decree sits CONTRAN Resolution 996/2023, which defines national technical standards. Electric scooters up to 32 km/h maximum speed continue to be exempt from driver's licenses, license plates, and vehicle registration across Brazil — including Rio and Maringá.

This federal regulation took full effect on January 1, 2026. It establishes:

Technical limit: 32 km/h (equipment's maximum speed)
Maximum power: 1,000 W
Minimum equipment: bell, night lighting, speed indicator
Minimum age: 16 years old without supervision
Driver's license: not required for e-scooters (required only for motorized scooters above 50 cc)

Why Each City Can Have Different Rules

CONTRAN Resolution sets the federal ceiling — what is permitted nationwide. But municipalities and states can tighten these rules for their territories. This is why Maringá's Law 11.981/2025 is more restrictive: the city chose lower speed limits and mandatory additional equipment to ensure safer streets for all residents.

When traveling between cities, always check local regulations. What's legal in Rio might be subject to different rules in Maringá. This is not bureaucracy for its own sake — it's about adapting infrastructure and safety standards to each community's reality.