Fire protection: Public transport companies ban the carrying of e-scooters

The municipal transportation companies in the five largest cities in North Rhine-Westphalia are prohibiting the transport of e-scooters in all or some of their vehicles from March 1 for fire safety reasons. The reason given is new fire safety assessments following several incidents of burning e-scooter batteries both domestically and abroad, explained the Cologne Transport Authority (KVB). Currently, the safety requirements for e-scooters are significantly lower than for other electric vehicles. Other transportation companies have made similar statements. In contrast, e-bikes, electric wheelchairs, and four-wheeled electric mobility devices for people with mobility impairments are not affected by the ban.

Large Transport Companies Lead the Way

KVB (Cologne), Rheinbahn (Düsseldorf), DSW21 (Dortmund), Ruhrbahn (Essen), and DVG (Duisburg) prohibit the transport of e-scooters, also known as e-scooters, in all their buses and trains. The municipal public transport companies base their decision on a recommendation by the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV). More companies are planning to follow this approach. For instance, Wuppertal Public Utilities plan to start the ban on March 18. Bogestra (Bochum) announced the ban starting on April 1.

At SWB Bus and Train (Bonn), passengers will only be allowed to carry e-scooters on trains until March 1. E-scooters may still be transported in SWB buses as evacuations can be carried out faster in case of an emergency, the company explained.

No unified regulation for NRW yet

The Rhein-Sieg Transport Association (VRS) stated that a unified regulation for NRW is being sought. This would then have to be anchored in the statewide transportation terms for local public transport in NRW, said a VRS spokesperson. DB Regio pointed out that the current transportation terms still permit the transport of e-scooters.

“We always agree on local public transport terms with our stakeholders – and we only adjust them together,” said a Deutsche Bahn NRW spokesperson.

As explained by several local transport associations in NRW, municipal transport companies are currently deciding based on their own house rules whether they allow the transport of e-scooters in their vehicles or not.