This article provides a rough overview of the legal framework for electric scooters (also known as electric scooters).
Scooters are generally categorized as follows
- Micro-scooter: Muscle-powered, two-wheeled small vehicles primarily for off-road use
- Petrol scooters: Two-wheeled small vehicles with a petrol engine designed as a scooter drive for one person
- with a design speed of up to 10 km/h are defined as motor vehicles
- with a design speed above 10 km/h they are defined as motorized bicycles (mopeds)
- Electric moped/electric scooter:
- With a design speed of up to 25 km/h and a maximum of 600 watts, they are defined as bicycles
- With a design speed of over 25 km/h and more than 600 watts, they are defined as motorized bicycles (mopeds)
Electric scooter
With a design speed of up to 25 km/h and a maximum of 600 watts, electric scooters are legally defined as bicycles . The regulations that also apply to the use of bicycles apply to the use of electric scooters. The following rules must therefore be observed in Austria :
Where are you allowed to ride an e-scooter?
- E-scooters may only be used where cycling is permitted, i.e. on cycle paths and the road. This means that you can also ride an e-scooter against the one-way system if this is permitted for bicycles at the specific location.
- Driving is generally prohibited on sidewalks and crosswalks.
- Exception: the competent authority releases certain sections of sidewalks and sidewalks for bicycles or e-scooters by means of a corresponding ordinance.
- Driving in pedestrian zones is also prohibited.
There are only exceptions where there is an additional sign “Bicycles permitted”, such as in Vienna’s Mariahilfer Straße. In this case, the pedestrian zone may only be used at walking speed. In any case, you are on the safe side here if you do not exceed 5 km/h. An absolute driving ban applies in Kärntnerstraße, for example.
Mandatory equipment of an e-scooter
- Front and rear lighting (white or yellow front light and red rear light)
- White or yellow reflectors on the side and front and a red reflector at the back
- Two independent braking systems (front/rear)
- Bell or chime
Helmet compulsory
- For children under the age of twelve
Blood alcohol limit
- Criminal liability begins at a blood alcohol content of 0.8 per mille
Phone calls
- Talking on a cell phone without hands-free equipment is prohibited
Parking an e-scooter
- Electric scooters may only be parked on the sidewalk if it is at least 2.5 meters wide
Electric scooters with a design speed of over 25 km/h and more than 600 watts are defined as motorized bicycles (mopeds). The following must be observed to be allowed to drive these :
- A driver’s license is required
- The crash helmet requirement applies
- The scooter must be registered and motor vehicle liability insurance must be taken out
- An annual inspection (sticker) must be carried out
- A license plate must be fully visible at the rear
- A first-aid kit must always be carried
From 01.06.2019, an amendment to the Road Traffic Act (StVO) is to come into force at . This is intended to standardize the legal handling of e-scooters throughout Germany . Among other things, this amendment should also clarify how to use hand signals for turning with an e-scooter without this being “dangerous”. Furthermore, an age limit is to be introduced.
Sources:
https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/dokumente_und_recht/fuehrerschein/5/Seite.280200.html ; https://www.wien.gv.at/verkehr/scooter-roller/index.html ; https://www.vienna.at/e-scooter-regeln-in-wien-was-darf-man-was-darf-man-nicht/6006302 ; https://www.vienna.at/strassenverkehrsordnung-neue-regeln-fuer-e-scooter-und-berittene-polizisten/6119976 ; https://autorevue.at/ratgeber/e-scooter-gesetz-regeln-recht