Mārtiņš Mālmeisters, a representative of the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD), says that in order to take care of yourself and other road users, you need to know basic road traffic rules.
"If a young person wants to ride a bicycle, a bicycle driver's license is definitely needed and a protective helmet must be worn on the head. This applies to young people up to and including 17 years old," explains Mālmeisters.
A cyclist's license to participate in road traffic can be obtained from the age of 10. Such a certificate is also required if a young person wants to drive an electric scooter, which is allowed from the age of 14.
In order to get a bicycle rider's license, you first need to learn a bit of theoretical knowledge. The exam must be taken in person by applying at any CSDD customer service center. Just 10 questions must be answered in the exam. If there are at least eight correct answers, the bicycle rider's license is in your pocket.
"The easiest way for children to learn is on the website of the CSDD, where there is all the current information about the rules of cycling. Of course, there are also various other handouts that contain the basics that bicycle riders need to know," says the representative of the CSDD.
Only the theoretical exam has to be passed, a practical exam is not necessary in this case.
A cyclist's license is not mandatory for adults. However, it is necessary if a person wants to drive an electric scooter, and the driver does not have a license of another category, such as a moped or driver's license.
"While children and young people up to the age of 17 (inclusive) can get a bicycle driver's license for free, then for adults to get a bicycle driver's license, this will be a paid service from now on," says Mālmeisters.
For adults, the fee for taking the theoretical exam to obtain a bicycle driver's license is 7.74 euros, and additionally, you have to pay 6.84 euros for obtaining a bicycle driver's license.
More about the bicycle rider's license (in English): https://csdd.lv/en/bicycle-driving-license/general-information
You can try an online sample test for yourself here (in Latvian): https://csnt2.csdd.lv/LAT
