Everyone is crazy about e-bikes and electric scooters, but who pays for the damages? One of the great news of this 2020 was the boom of the so-called soft mobility: in addition to the traditional bicycles, already quite widespread in our country, the metropolitan panorama has almost suddenly been enriched with means of transport practically unknown until a few ago. Thanks to the Bike Bonus allocated by the Government, our cities are now teeming with electric scooters and bicycles (including pedal assisted ones), as well as - but these significantly less - with electric skateboards, hoverboards, segways and monowheels. As for bicycles, in May alone, when the Bonus was launched, 200.000 were sold throughout Italy (Ancma-Confindustria data, +60% over one year), and the forecast is to reach 2 million of sales throughout 2020. For a total that would approach 30 million, that is about 1 for every 2 inhabitants.
As for electric scooters and the like, the figure is even more explosive: according to data updated last summer, over 130.000 had already been sold, i.e. an increase of 140% compared to the previous year. The enormous diffusion of these ecological vehicles is certainly a positive fact, but accidents have also increased in recent months (especially to the detriment of pedestrians) and this has raised a question: in addition to being comfortable and with zero impact, are scooters and bikes also safe? The debate is also very open because for all the means mentioned, except for e-bikes with power over 500 watts or speeds exceeding 25 km/h, insurance is not mandatory. But it is increasingly advisable, and in fact several insurance companies have sensed a business to intercept quickly. With offers of all kinds: for damage, theft or injury.
Among the first to move Generali Italy, which at the end of June launched “Immagina Strade Nuove – Passione Moto”, a product for two wheels that also protects bikers when riding bikes, scooters, hoverboards, and even when walking. The solution goes beyond the mandatory RCA, allowing the customer to differentiate the risk based on the type of motor vehicle, the methods of use (transport, passion/leisure, tourism) and thus have a personalized rate. In addition to the part relating to motorcycles, among the new features there is also "Privacy on the move", which covers damage involuntarily caused to third parties when driving all more alternative means of transport that do not require insurance, such as bikes, even with pedal assistance, scooters, hoverboards, as well as when traveling on foot.
The offer is also rich Cattolica Insurance, which for all means of micromobility (so defined by Ministry of Transport Decree 4/6/2019 No. 229) provides for accident coverage for the driver/passenger in the "Cattolica&Salute Every Day-In Movement" package, as well as the Private Life and Leisure RC policy for the ownership and/or use of non-motor vehicles, in the "Active House & Person". Not only that: customers who purchase an assistance package connected to an Active Auto or Active Smart telematics product can activate a series of services for owned bicycles (non-professional use), bike sharing bikes and owned scooters, including, for example, sending an ambulance in the event of an accident, an advance on medical expenses or the delivery of medicines to the home.
He also packaged an ad hoc product Your Insurance, which in addition to extending the "TUA Casa e Famiglia" TPL to scooters, has launched Tua Bike, a complete solution, also valid for e-bikes up to 0,25 kW of power, which protects the insured during home/work trips and in (non-professional) sporting activity. The package precedes the cyclist's civil liability in the event of an accident, protection in the event of accidents (including for death or permanent disability), legal protection, compensation for accidental damage to the bicycle and for theft of the bicycle in enclosed spaces (home or other "duly closed" premises).
Unipolsai took up the challenge of the new mobility by presenting "Circulation Accidents", the policy that protects the insured (and if desired the whole family, and also if desired a maximum of three other designated users, unrelated to the family) in every move: by car , by motorbike, by bicycle, on public and private transport, to go to work and in your free time, every day, 24 hours a day, in Italy and abroad. Also Allianz for vehicles such as bikes and scooters, it provides both protection against theft (if inside the house it falls under household contents insurance, but it can also be extended to theft outside the home with complementary coverage), and that for damages, up to the possibility to protect the vehicle at 360° also against destruction and loss.
Among the specialist products finally (but no less interesting) those of Reale Mutua, Europ Assistance, Yolo, Sara and Groupama.
Since there are bicycles and scooters around, cities have become a hell for pedestrians. I don't see anything positive about it.