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Court stops e-scooter tours through Bad Dürkheim vineyards!
E-scooter tours prohibited in Bad Dürkheim: Court confirms that public paths are only open to agricultural traffic.
Court stops e-scooter tours through Bad Dürkheim vineyards!
These days, e-scooters are a common sight in many cities, often used for quick trips to short destinations. But the increasing popularity of these electric scooters also brings challenges. Sidewalks are blocked, accidents are increasing and tempers are running high in both urban and rural areas. A current example of the complications surrounding e-scooters is the city of Bad Dürkheim, where an entrepreneur wanted to offer e-scooter tours through picturesque vineyards.
How Mercury reported, the project was prohibited by the city. The Neustadt administrative court has confirmed the ban and shown that leisure activities will not be accepted without the necessary approval. According to traffic signs, the paths in question are only open to agricultural traffic.
Legal provisions and arguments
The entrepreneur argued that his throttled e-scooters with a maximum speed of 6 km/h could be classified as “ambulance elevators,” which would theoretically allow them to travel anywhere where pedestrians are allowed. However, the court rejected this argument. The crucial rules lie in the municipal code and the city's statutes, which clearly state that these paths are reserved for agricultural use and may not be used for commercial recreational activities.
The city of Bad Dürkheim emphasizes the importance of public safety and protecting the interests of farmers. Winegrowers also express concerns about a possible increased risk of accidents caused by e-scooter tours. The judgment clearly shows that public interests outweigh the economic ambitions of individual entrepreneurs in such cases. The regulations for the use of e-scooters are also clear: they are allowed to travel up to 20 km/h on roads and cycle paths, while a maximum speed of 6 km/h applies on sidewalks - how N-AG determines.
Insurance and fines
In addition, e-scooters are subject to insurance in Germany. They may only be used on public roads with a valid operating license. The Small Electric Vehicle Ordinance requires liability insurance, which must be proven by a corresponding sticker. Fines for violations can be up to 500 euros, which should encourage users to comply. Driving without an insurance license plate is also a criminal offense and is punished with 40 euros ADAC informed.
In summary, this incident shows how important clear regulations are for the use of public rights of way. Municipalities have the right to regulate the use of their infrastructure and to ensure that it not only serves private economic interests, but above all to protect the general public. The regulations are in flux and it will be exciting to see how the legal framework for e-scooters develops in the future.