E-scooters are finally coming to Germany!
April was great for individual mobility in Germany: The Federal Cabinet of Germany passed a regulation that approved the use of “scooters with an electric motor”, the so-called “eScooters” (the still required approval of the German “Bundesrat” (the Federal Council) is considered a formality). But is it really only about the approval of a new tool for personal liability? I do not think so. Rather, I believe that e-scooters are a first step towards rethinking mobility in Germany.
The new regulation
The regulation covers so-called “small electrical vehicles”. These may travel at least six and a maximum of 20 kilometers per hour and must have a steering rod or grab pole.
The size and weight of the e-scooters are also regulated: they may be no more than 70 centimeters wide, 140 centimeters high and two meters long. The maximum weight without driver must not exceed 55 kilograms.
Who is allowed to use an e-scooter
If the e-scooter is not faster than twelve kilometers per hour, it can already be used by young people of the age of twelve. Faster e-scooters may be used by young people of the age of 14.
A moped test certificate or a helmet obligation does not exist (the latter, however, is still under discussion).
The use of e-scooters requires a liability insurance including insurance sticker on the back of the vehicle.
Where is it allowed to ride e-scooters and how fast can they go
Users are allowed to ride their e-scooters with a speed between 12 and 20 kilometers per hour on cycle paths or bike lanes. They may use regular lanes of traffic if cycle paths or bike lanes are missing.
E-scooters that are slower than twelve kilometers per hour have to drive on sidewalks and shared pedestrian and cycle paths. Only if these do not exist, they may use lanes of traffic in cities. By the way, there is still a point of discussion here, because it is feared that the number of accidents involving pedestrians will increase when e-scooters are used on sidewalks. However, I personally do not think that this will be such a problem, because even now small children are allowed to ride bicycles on sidewalks. So people are used to other vehicles on the sidewalks.
Which technical requirements exist?
E-scooters must have two independent brakes. They must also have lighting, although it may be removable. Also required are side reflectors and a bell.
Control elements for the engine, such as knobs, must automatically return to their original neutral position within one second when released.
By the way: the use of trailers is not allowed.
A new way to look at personal mobility in Germany
E-scooters are already been allowed in the US and also in European countries such as France and Portugal. Companies such as Bird, Lime and Spin offer e-scooters for rent in these countries.
Renting e-scooters is extremely simple: an app is used to scan a QR code that is found on an e-scooters. The e-scooter is unlocked via the app and the app is also used for billing purposes, measuring the distance, tracking the location, etc. After use, the e-scooter is parked (very often not in specific parking spots, but rather somewhere on a street where is can easily be found by the next user) and the place is marked in the app. The billing is done automatically via the electronic account that comes with the app.
However, e-scooters not only give cause for joy, because the often carelessly parked e-scooters repeatedly hinder passers-by or traffic and the number of accidents involving e-scooters is rising. In some US cities, lawyers have already specialized in such accidents involving e-scooters.
Nonetheless, I think e-scooters are symbolic of a new way of thinking about personal mobility in Germany. The reason: the thinking about the way in which a tool (like an e-scooter or an air taxi) is used for individual mobility purposes I changing dramatically. Therefore, in the second part of this article I will provide my opinion on the future of mobility considering the changes currently going on in Germany.
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I am the co-founder of “Gründen@Würzburg”, the startup initiative of the German city of Würzburg. I had the honor to be the President of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs´ Alliance (YEA) Germany and also the World President of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs´ Alliance International, an organisation that is the voice of more than 500.000 young entrepreneurs in the G20 countries (www.g20yea.com) .
A corporate lawyer by profession and equipped with my own law firm, I advises German and international clients (who want to do business in Germany) in corporate and commercial legal matters. By invitation of the European Commission I am a participant in the annual SME Assembly, the most important event for small and medium-size enterprises in Europe. Additionally, I am a member of the B20 Task Forces and was from 2014 to 2017 the General Legal Counsel and also a member of the national board of JCI Germany (WJD — Wirtschaftsjunioren Deutschland), the biggest organization for young leaders and entrepreneurs in Germany. Last but not least I am one of the ambassadors for the “Großer Preis des Mittelstands”, the biggest and most prominent German award for companies of the German Mittelstand.
