E-scooter in Erlangen

In Erlangen, e-scooter rental is operated by the following providers.

TIER Mobility SE
Phone: +49 30 5683 8651
E-mail: support@tier.app or erlangen@de.tier-ops.app
Website: www.tier.app

VOI Technology Germany GmbH
Phone: +49 1573 5993270
E-Mail: support@voiapp.io
Website: www.voiscooters.com
Report e-scooter: www.report.voi.com/de or www.scooter-melder.de

BOLT Services DE GmbH
Phone: +49 30 568 373 989
E-mail: germany-rentals@bolt.eu
Website: www.bolt.eu
Report e-scooter: www.bolt.eu/de/report-scooter or www.scooter-melder.de

Superpedestrian Germany GmbH
Phone: +49 2173 852 2129
E-mail: support@superpedestrian.com
Website: www.Superpedestrian.com

Contact at the city of Erlangen
E-Mail: e-scooter@stadt.erlangen.de

Four providers are currently active in Erlangen. The operating area is divided into different zones, for each of which a maximum number of vehicles is defined, which is divided between the active providers. A total of 973 vehicles are currently permitted in the entire city area:

A minimum age of 14 years applies for private individuals, while a minimum age of 18 years has been agreed with the providers for the use of rental systems. The use of a helmet is not required by law, but is nevertheless recommended.

As e-scooters are motor vehicles, the same regulations apply as for driving a car with regard to alcohol and drugs - in particular the drink-drive limit. The blood alcohol limit for people up to the age of 21 and new drivers on probation is 0.00 per mille.

In the event of violations of the legal provisions (Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) or Small Electric Vehicles Ordinance (eKFV)), these are punished within the framework of the catalog of fines (through fines, points in the driving aptitude register up to imprisonment).

The areas in which e-scooters may be used are regulated in the Ordinance on Small Electric Vehicles (eKFV) and the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO). E-scooters are motor vehicles, but for the most part they are allowed to move around in public spaces like bicycles. Within built-up areas, cycle paths or cycle lanes must be used, even if they are not mandatory for bicycles. This also includes shared footpaths and cycle paths as well as cycle lanes. If there are no cycle paths, e-scooters must use the road.

Other traffic areas (e.g. pedestrian zones or footpaths) may not be used.
Exceptions are only possible with the additional sign "Small electric vehicles free".

Road traffic regulations: Small electric vehicles free - areas with this additional sign may be used.
If sidewalks are cleared for bicycle traffic, they may not be used with the additional sign "Radverkehr frei".

©StVO: Cycle traffic free - areas with this additional sign may not be used.
An exception to this is the opening of a one-way street in the opposite direction. If cyclists are permitted to travel in the opposite direction with the additional sign "Radverkehr frei", small electric vehicles may also travel on the one-way street against the direction of travel of the one-way street.

In the interests of fellow citizens, vehicles must be parked by users in such a way that they do not obstruct other road users. Parking is generally not permitted on escape routes or in driveways, in particular fire department access routes and in areas to ensure accessibility as well as in green spaces. E-scooters may only be parked on public roads, generally on the edges (sidewalks, squares), where a maximum of four e-scooters may be parked next to each other. There must be a distance of 50 m between each of these points. The eKFV stipulates that e-scooters must be treated like bicycles when parked.

The vehicles must not cause any obstructions when parked. To this end, the vehicles must be parked on the edge or in parking zones. There must always be at least two meters of clearance so that the path of pedestrians is not blocked. If there is not enough space, the vehicle must not be parked.

Access roads must also be kept clear; as with any other vehicle, no entrances or exits, bus stops or fire department access roads, etc. may be blocked.

Parking zones

Various parking zones have been set up in the city area, e.g. at the station forecourt, in Nürnberger Straße (opposite Rathausplatz) and at the Mobilpunkte (erlangen.de/mobilpunkt) extra e-scooter parking spaces have been set up.

These can be easily recognized by the markings on the ground with the e-scooter symbol and, in some cases, the appropriate signage. Some of the providers reward parking in the marked areas with free minutes, for example.

In the event of an incorrectly parked e-scooter, the respective provider is the point of contact. The rental companies have undertaken to react immediately in the event of e-scooters obstructing or endangering traffic, and within six hours in the event of defective or incorrectly parked vehicles.

This is not the responsibility of the City of Erlangen.

The contact details of the providers can be found above.

In Erlangen, areas have been agreed with the providers of e-scooter rental systems in which the parking and removal of vehicles is not permitted - the so-called no-parking zones. These are areas in which particular hazards for pedestrians or other road users are to be expected or in which the parking of small electric vehicles is not permitted for traffic, monument preservation, ecological or urban design reasons. Within these zones, vehicles may neither be parked by users nor by providers. The areas are mainly located in pedestrian zones, where the driving of small electric vehicles is prohibited by the eKFV and StVO.

In Erlangen's city center, the no-parking zones include the station forecourt, Schlossgarten, Altstädter Kirchenplatz, Schlossplatz, Hugenottenplatz, Neustädter Kirchenplatz as well as Bohlenplatz, Rathausplatz and Rathausplatz. Furthermore, Nürnberger Straße or Hauptstraße between Rathausplatz and Wasserturmstraße/Heuwaagstraße is also designated as a no-parking zone. In the rest of the operational area, the focus of the no-parking zones is on green and water areas. For example, the Röthelheimpark/Exerzierplatz and the Brucker Lache fall within the no-parking zones. Detailed information on the location of the no-parking zones can be found on the map. The designated zones are to be understood as a minimum requirement on the part of the city and can be individually supplemented by the providers. Within the no-parking zones, it is not possible for users to end the rental process due to technical measures; the e-scooter can only be returned outside the no-parking zones. It is not possible to designate the footpaths as no-parking zones across the board, as the areas can only be precisely delimited to within 5-10 m using GPS.

In order to ensure road safety, the city of Erlangen has concluded a voluntary cooperation agreement with the providers of rental systems with the aim of ensuring safe and city-compatible use. Among other things, the agreement contains provisions on operation, parking and cooperation. In order to create a document that is as comprehensive as possible, experience from other cities and the police has been incorporated into the cooperation agreement.

The rental companies commit to the following key points vis-à-vis the city of Erlangen:

• The provider and the City of Erlangen will work together as partners to promote sustainable mobility in Erlangen.
  
  
• The City of Erlangen supports the providers through coordination, technical expertise and the evaluation of data from Erlangen's transportation system.
  
• The provider commits to the following points:
  
  
  • Only safe and approved small electric vehicles (e-scooters) will be offered in Erlangen.
    
    
  • For the operating area with the zones city center and core area as well as extension 1, a total number of 250 small electric vehicles is permitted. An overview of the zones can be found on the map.
    
  • Users must be made aware of the traffic regulations, including the recommendation to wear a helmet and the ban on using footpaths.
    
    
  • E-scooters may only be parked on public roads, generally on the edges (sidewalks, squares), where a maximum of four e-scooters may be parked next to each other. There must be a distance of 50 m between each of these points.
    
    
  • When parking, the areas for flowing traffic, escape routes, passages, access roads, bus stops (20 m distance there), platforms, bicycle parking facilities, bridges, playgrounds, curbs, pedestrian crossings, ramps, guidance systems for the disabled, green areas, vending machines and elevators as well as nature and landscape conservation areas must be kept clear.
    
    
  • A minimum passage width of 2.00 m must be ensured everywhere.
    
    
  • Parking on public roads is prohibited in the defined "no parking zones"(see map).
    
  • In the event of problems, the provider must remedy the situation immediately during operating hours.
    
    
  • Of the e-scooters placed on the market, 80% must always be ready for use (battery level min. 20%).
    
    
  • Additional areas are designated where more than four scooters are parked, so-called collection points:
    
    
  • The city of Erlangen is regularly provided with usage data.
    
    
• The partners commit to a regular exchange of information with the aim of improving the systems. Discussions are sought before the cooperation is terminated.

The respective provider provides information and answers questions about the rental and use of its vehicles. In the event of an incorrectly parked e-scooter, the respective provider is the point of contact. The rental providers have undertaken to respond immediately in the event of e-scooters obstructing or endangering traffic, and within six hours in the event of defective or incorrectly parked vehicles. This is not the responsibility of the City of Erlangen.