What you should know about stand-up bikes

Stand-up bikes and stand-up boards come in many varieties and can be bought in stores and online. Here is some advice for you who are going to buy such a product, either for yourself or others.

Buy online or in store?

Many people order stand-up bikes and stand-up boards online, often from foreign online stores. You don't need any permissions or approvals to do so. However, remember that you as a consumer are better protected if you buy the product in a Norwegian store. Then it is the store that is responsible for ensuring that the product is safe. If you order from abroad, you have a greater responsibility.

Are you going to sell or give away?

If you buy a self-balancing vehicle abroad to sell or give away, you are considered an importer. Then you need to make sure that the product is safe, including by making sure that it comes with the necessary documentation. You should also consider that you may be held liable if the product you are importing causes an accident.

What are the requirements for self-balancing vehicles?

When imported and sold on the Norwegian market, stand-up boards and stand-up bikes are classified as machines. This means that the Machinery Regulations stipulate safety requirements for the product that the manufacturer must document that is met. The manufacturer must also CE mark the product.

If the requirements are not met, there may be various consequences. For example, the product may be stopped by the customs authorities, or the importer may be refused to sell the product on the Norwegian market.

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration sets requirements for how stand-up bikes should be used and how they should be equipped.

Who controls the products?

Many people believe that the Norwegian authorities still control and approve all products on the market, or carry out checks on everyone who sells products. This is not the case, but market controls are carried out, both in shops and at importers and manufacturers. In addition, DSB, as the product authority, cooperates closely with the customs authorities on the control of products entering the country.

The authorities of various European countries also exchange information about dangerous products among themselves. If you as a consumer feel that a product is or may be dangerous, you should send a message of concern to DSB. In this way, you help to weed out dangerous products from the market.

Here you can submit a report of concern to DSB and/or see which products others have reported as dangerous.