The recent public poll in Paris resulted in a large majority of residents voting against the public rental of e-scooters. This has led to questions about the future of e-scooters in German cities and communities. According to Gerd Landsberg, Managing Director of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, German municipalities are not seeking a legal ban on e-scooters. However, stricter rules and restrictions may have to be discussed if e-scooters do not become more ordered in the cityscape.
One of the most significant issues with e-scooters is the incorrect parking of rental vehicles on sidewalks. Since the nationwide legalization of e-scooters in 2019, special use permits have been introduced to ensure that providers comply with requirements. Mandatory approval is now necessary in municipalities where e-scooters are considered special use.
E-scooters have caused mobility issues for people with visual and walking disabilities due to incorrectly parked scooters. Providers need to sanction the misconduct of some users. Fixed parking areas should be mandatory to prevent parking on sidewalks, and geofencing can help in implementing this rule.
New mobility concepts and innovations should not be shied away from, but instead regulated to create additional services and achieve transport policy goals. E-scooters should be integrated into local transport systems to contribute to sustainable mobility. The German Association of Towns and Municipalities suggests changes in federal and state road laws to support municipalities in dealing with providers and avoiding unnecessary court proceedings.
To resolve conflicts over rental e-scooters, effective control instruments must be implemented, and the provision of e-scooter offers must be anchored in the road laws of federal and state governments as special use.
