Guidelines for Using a Roller
In the city of Dresden, electric scooters have become a new mode of transportation, aiming to reduce car traffic. The police are responsible for enforcing violations of the traffic regulations that apply to these micro-vehicles.
For e-scooter users, it is essential to note that a permit for bicycle traffic (Z 1022-10 StVO "Radverkehr frei") does not automatically cover E-Scooters. Specific regulations for e-scooters are outlined in the federal ministry of transport's ordinance on electric micro-vehicles.
The city of Dresden has signed cooperation agreements with two e-scooter providers: LimeBike Germany GmbH and VOI Technology GmbH. While the specific traffic regulations for e-scooters in Dresden's inner city areas, as outlined in these agreements, are not explicitly detailed in publicly available sources, it is likely that the regulations include designated parking areas for e-scooters, specified zones within the inner city where speed limits may be lowered or where e-scooter use might be restricted, and obligations on operators to manage fleet distribution and compliance monitoring.
LimeBike Germany GmbH has already deployed around 200 of its white-green scooters in Dresden. To use them, installing the app on a smartphone is mandatory. A photo of the scooter is required to end a ride, allowing the company to check if the user has done everything correctly. The cost of using the scooters from LimeBike is one euro to unlock, followed by 20 cents per minute of usage.
VOI Technology GmbH is still in the starting blocks. The company's system for pricing is similar, but the minute cost in Dresden is not yet provided. In Berlin, it costs 15 cents per minute.
It is crucial for e-scooter riders to abide by general traffic laws applicable to bicycles, such as riding on the road or designated bike lanes, respecting traffic signals, and yielding to pedestrians at crossings. There is an emphasis on reducing traffic conflicts and improving road crossing safety.
Unknown persons have hung three e-scooters at Rothenburger Street near the social corner in Rothenburg. The providers promise to monitor and inform users via their app about the red zones where e-scooters should not be parked. There are seven red zones in Dresden.
For the authoritative, precise traffic regulations embodied in the Dresden cooperation agreement with LimeBike Germany GmbH and VOI Technology GmbH, consulting the official city government or transport authority releases or the agreements themselves would be necessary. Other regulatory signs that have exempted bicycle traffic with the sign "Radverkehr frei" may only be used by E-Scooters if indicated by the additional sign "Elektrokleinstfahrzeuge frei" (cf. § 12 eKFV). According to § 10 (3) eKFV, other traffic areas may only be used if approved by the traffic authority with the additional sign "Elektrokleinstfahrzeuge frei".
Lime teams are on the road to check if the scooters are parked properly in Dresden. There is no administrative recourse for incorrectly parked scooters, according to Schmidt-Lamontain. He hopes the companies will adhere to the cooperation agreement.
E-scooters, being a type of micro-vehicle, are subject to specific regulations outlined in the federal ministry of transport's ordinance on electric micro-vehicles, separate from the general bicycle traffic regulations. Technology plays a crucial role in the operation of the e-scooters, as users are required to install an app on their smartphones to use LimeBike's scooters, and the company uses this technology to check if the scooter was returned correctly after a ride.
