New rules for e-scooters: What’s the actual situation in Graz now?
Hello, BikeGraz community! I’m sure you’ve already heard about it, haven’t you? The discussions surrounding e-scooters, e-mopeds and e-bikes on our roads have been a hot topic for quite some time now. But now there are finally clearer rules that affect us all. The Kleine Zeitung has provided a good overview of this, which I’ve taken a closer look at so that you know what’s going on.
Let’s start with the much-discussed e-scooters. You know, those little speedsters you see parked all over the city, sometimes even right in the middle of the pavement at Mariahilferplatz or Lendplatz, where they’re a real nuisance. The good news: the rules are now stricter. E-scooters belong on the road, not on the pavement! This is important, because it was often a nuisance, especially for pedestrians and us cyclists. And what about the helmet requirement? Very important: the helmet requirement only applies to children up to the age of 12. It doesn’t apply to us adults, but as we all know, a helmet is never a bad idea, even if you’re just whizzing through the city park.
Then there are the e-mopeds. These are the ones that can reach speeds of up to 45 km/h and often travel at quite a pace. Here, the matter is quite clear: these vehicles have absolutely no place on cycle paths! They are too fast, too heavy and belong on the road. Imagine one of these things coming towards you on the Murr cycle path, where we want to cycle at a leisurely pace – it’s simply dangerous. It’s good that there’s now clarity on this and they have to disappear from our cycle paths.
And what about our beloved e-bikes? Don’t worry, for most of us, little will change. Your standard pedelec, which assists you up to 25 km/h, will continue to be treated just like a normal bicycle. That means you can ride it on cycle paths and there’s no compulsory helmet rule for adults. Only S-pedelecs, which assist up to 45 km/h, are subject to different rules and require a licence plate and a compulsory helmet. But they’re rarely seen on the streets anyway.
For us cyclists in Graz, all this means one thing above all else: more space and greater safety on our beloved cycle paths! Imagine the Murradweg becoming a pure pleasure again, without having to constantly watch out for a fast e-scooter or even an e-moped coming towards you. That’s quite a statement, isn’t it? We can now truly be glad that these vehicles, which have often made us feel uneasy, are disappearing from the cycle paths and we can cycle through Graz with greater peace of mind again, whether to the main square, through the city park or simply to go shopping.
What do you think of the new rules? Tell us about your experiences and thoughts! Share your rides and opinions on Instagram and Bluesky using #bikegraz. We look forward to your posts!
