Court stops e-scooter tours through Bad Dürkheim vineyards!

Court stops e-scooter tours through Bad Dürkheim vineyards!

In the discussion about the use of e-scooters, the Neustadt Administrative Court made it clear in a recent decision where the limits lie for such new mobility offers. Many people already know them from the cities: e-scooters are an indispensable means of transport for short distances. But increased use also has its challenges, such as blocked sidewalks and accidents. An example of this problem is a case from Bad Dürkheim, where an entrepreneur wanted to offer guided e-scooter tours through the picturesque vineyards. But not everyone is enthusiastic about this idea.

The city of Bad Dürkheim issued a ban. The administrative court confirmed this ban and made it clear that leisure activities cannot be accepted without the necessary approval. According to [merkur.de]. The entrepreneur argued that his throttled e-scooters, with a maximum speed of 6 km/h, should legally be considered “ambulance elevators” that can travel anywhere pedestrians are allowed. But this view was rejected by the court.

Clear regulations for e-scooters

The decision has significance on many levels. The traffic signs clearly show that the paths are not open to e-scooters. The city countered that such expropriations are in the public interest and the safety of farmers. Winegrowers have also spoken out against the tours because they fear an increased risk of accidents. The municipal regulations are clear: The use of the path for commercial purposes is not permitted without express permission.

Traffic sign 250, which stands in the fields, applies comprehensively and does not allow for any exceptions. This shows how important clear statutes are for municipalities when regulating public rights of way. The judgment makes it clear that the interest of the general public and farmers outweighs the economic interest of a sole proprietor, as beck.de reports.

Legal framework and security

E-scooters are now an integral part of urban mobility. They can be found in many cities, and in order to travel safely with them, some regulations must be observed. According to adac.de, e-scooters are subject to insurance in Germany and are only allowed to drive in permitted areas. Driving on sidewalks and in pedestrian zones is only permitted at walking speed unless expressly regulated otherwise.

The most important points for e-scooter drivers can be summarized in an overview:

• Fahren erlaubt auf Radwegen, Radfahrstreifen und in Fahrradstraßen
• Maximal 20 km/h auf Straßen;
• Auf Gehwegen nur Schrittgeschwindigkeit (max. 6 km/h) bei entsprechender Zulassung;
• Haftpflichtversicherung ist Pflicht und muss durch eine Plakette nachgewiesen werden;
• Bußgelder bei Verstößen gegen die Regelungen können bis zu 500 Euro betragen.

Current developments show that the legal framework surrounding e-scooters is constantly in flux. What is clear is that municipalities will continue to have the right to regulate the use of these vehicles to ensure the safety of all road users.