(Vienna) – Stricter parking regulations for rental e-scooters have been in effect since May 19, 2023, and the second part of the measures will now be implemented on July 1, 2023.
The Administrative Court has confirmed the legality of the decision to reallocate scooter permits in Vienna, Austria. This means that only four selected operators will be awarded scooter permits in the future, and they are required to implement the following measures:
Scooter Caps:
In areas with an oversupply of scooters and an accumulation of complaints, the number of scooters will be reduced by establishing fixed maximum limits in the inner city and the 20th district.
No Sidewalk Parking: Scooters must be parked in designated scooter parking areas or lanes to save space. Sidewalk parking is not allowed.
Digital 24-Hour Monitoring: A dashboard will enable continuous GPS tracking of each scooter, allowing for consistent penalties for illegally parked scooters.
Increased On-Site Inspections: Operators must ensure that scooters are properly parked through their steward services, and the City of Vienna will also monitor compliance with the regulations on-site.
Expanded Fixed Parking Areas: Scooter stations will be expanded throughout the city, especially at problematic “hotspots.” Parking within 100 meters of the stations is not permitted.
Restricted Zones: Certain sensitive areas, such as hospitals, market areas, and municipal buildings, are off-limits for scooters, and entry will be technically prevented.
Slow-Drive Zones: Traffic will automatically be reduced in pedestrian zones, meeting areas, residential streets, and other designated areas.
Immediate Removal of Improperly Parked Scooters: Operators will face fines, and scooters can be towed away at the operator’s expense.
Mandatory License Plates: Every scooter must have a license plate in the future.
Reduction of Scooter Maximum Numbers
Starting from July 1:
Inner City (1010): A maximum of 500 scooters will be allowed (previously up to 2,500 scooters)
Districts 2 to 9 and the 20th district: A total of 1,500 scooters will be allowed (previously up to 2,500 scooters)
In the areas outside the city, at the outer edges, the availability of scooters is often insufficient. It will be improved, especially at the final stops of subways, commuter trains, and trams.
Precise Location Control through Digital Dashboard
Starting from July 1, a digital dashboard will be used for better control. It will display the exact locations of each individual scooter at any time through GPS. This enables real-time digital monitoring and identifies locations at any time, including retroactively.
This allows for consistent penalties for unauthorized parking. In such cases, the operators will issue fines, who can then take action against their users. In case of repeated violations, the operators will lose their required “reliability” and may ultimately face contract termination. The operators are responsible for ensuring that no scooters are left unattended. The operators’ onsite personnel and parking enforcement officers will enforce the new regulations.
Restricted Zones or Speed Reduction for Hotspots
The digital dashboard also enables the targeted definition and control of restricted zones where scooters cannot be ridden or parked. These include areas around hospitals, market areas,
municipal buildings, or other hotspots with many complaints. The dashboard allows quick and flexible responses to issues, enabling identifying and redefinition of potential new restricted zones. Additionally, temporary restricted zones based on specific events, such as during the holiday season or large-scale gatherings, are also possible. Pedestrian zones, residential streets, and meeting areas are also designated as restricted zones in the dashboard, with restrictions on passage or speed reduction.
Scooters will have License Plates.
Every scooter will be equipped with a license plate in the future. This facilitates accurate identification in case of complaints. If someone reports an improperly parked scooter through the “Sag’s Wien” app, along with a photo of the license plate, the scooter’s location can be immediately verified. Complaints can be addressed more efficiently.
Clear Guidelines for Permit Allocation
Clear criteria were established for allocating service concession contracts, which determined the selection of the best providers. The four chosen operators—Bird, Lime, Superpedestrian/Link, and Voi—convincingly demonstrated their comprehensive concepts to the expert jury during the selection process.
With the new concession contracts, the City of Vienna can impose additional contractual penalties on operators if the agreed-upon requirements are not met, including the possibility of contract termination. /Stadt Wien
