Two rental companies of the controversial electric scooters did not want to meet the requirements. The dispute went to court, and Gelsenkirchen's administration was proven right - and now has inquiries from other cities.
"Unfortunately, the e-scooters are mainly used improperly, including in pedestrian zones, on sidewalks, and there have been many serious accidents," city spokesman Martin Schulmann told the German Press Agency on Thursday. The city therefore required that users register once with the rental companies using their ID card or driver's license when registering, so that they can be identified if necessary. The two rental companies appealed against the corresponding regulatory order, but have now failed in preliminary legal protection proceedings before the Administrative Court (VG). The city now has the right to ban e- scooters from public transport by April 20, 2024, according to the city's administrative court. The rental companies Bolt and Tier have not yet responded to the request for comment on the decision.