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In the USA, e-scooters have long been part of the street scene. In European countries like Austria and Switzerland, they are increasingly buzzing past traffic jams.
In Germany, e-scooters weren’t so popular until recently because they weren’t approved. This has changed with the recent adjustment of the traffic law. Now you can explore Berlin with an e-scooter. Here is what you need to know to get started.
You must be at least 14 years old to be allowed to operate an e-scooter. Rental of e-scooters is only permitted from the age of 18. However, an individual operating license is not required.
Only one person can ride on the scooter at a time. Additional passengers – including children – are not permitted.
If you buy an e-scooter, you must register with the insurance company and obtain a new insurance number every year. The sticker is available from the insurance offices or can be purchased online. It costs around 40 euros.
All local traffic rules and parking regulations also apply to the up to 20 km/h fast e-scooters. These include, among other things, that you should always behave attentively and responsibly towards pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.
Riding on the sidewalk is prohibited. A violation will result in a fine between 15 and 30 euros.
For your safety, you should always wear a helmet.
Check the condition of the scooter before departure. In addition to the functionality of the tires, lights, and brakes and scan the scooter if it is damaged.
Also, check if it has a valid insurance sticker. If you have an accident without being insured, it can become costly.
Almost all e-scooters have a handbrake and a stand for parking. Currently, you can still park at the roadside, on sidewalks and green strips or in pedestrian zones. However, the scooter must not obstruct others. For example, make sure that you are not blocking escape routes for the fire brigade.
Keep in mind that it is not allowed to park your e-scooter around the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial. From 2020, parking on all sidewalks in the capital will also be banned.
Usually, you can take your e-scooter with you for free of charge when travelling on a train. Keep the scooter folded up under or above the seat. The battery must remain in the scooter. You can’t charge your e-scooter on the train as the available power is not sufficient.
If the scooter cannot be folded down, you may need to buy a special extension ticket. This also applies to public transport on buses and underground trains.
Theft is a problem
Best is to lock your scooter wherever you leave it, also on the train. In some cases, you can secure your scooters electronically via an app.
The zero per mille limit applies to younger drivers up to and including the age of 20. The alcohol limit for drivers aged 21 and over is 0.5 per mille.
When your blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.5 to 1.09 per mille and show no alcohol-related abnormality, you “only” get a fine of 500 Euro as well as a one-month driving ban.
If your BAC is 1.1 per mille or higher while riding an e-scooter, you’re considered legally impaired and committed a criminal offense. However, this can also be the case from 0.3 per mille if you show alcohol-related failure symptoms.
If you want to rent an e-scooter, you have to download an app of the respective scooter provider onto your smartphone. As a rule, you are billed by credit card according to travel time. Ten minutes usually cost between two and three euros.
There are several e-scooter rental companies in Berlin. Here is an overview of the most popular ones.
Lime, the leading American provider, rents out e-bikes and e-scooters according to the sharing principle. That’s how it works:
Fees: 1 Euro registration fee + 20 cent/minute ride. That means a 30-minute drive is about 7 euros.
TIER is a start-up company from Berlin, and their slogan is “Born to move”. Here is how it works:
Fees: 1 Euro activation fee + 15 cent/minute
First under the name Flash, since June 2019 under the name Nahem Circ, the start-up was one of the first providers of e-scooters in Berlin and other large European cities.
That’s how it works:
Fees: 1 Euro basic fee + 15 Cent for every minute
On their website the Swedish provider Voi offers to join a traffic school, and in return, you get free rides. Check it out on https://www.voiscooters.com/.
That’s how it works:
Fees: 1 Euro to unlock the scooter + 15 Cent for every minute
The Californian company Bird is producing its own e-scooters. Employees collect the driving devices overnight, reload them and drop them off at the city’s hot spots on time for the next morning.
That’s how it works:
Exploring Berlin in an e-scooter is fun and convenient. You don’t need to look for expensive parking space, and the rental process is easy. Just keep in mind to follow the basic safety rules like wearing a helmet, and avoid riding by rain.
Happy riding!