Wednesday, September 24
Lime vs the blind: e-scooter parking goes to court
Next week, the Berlin Administrative Court will hear a lawsuit brought by the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABSV) against e-scooter companies. The group argues that leaving vehicles scattered on pavements endangers accessibility for the city’s residents. They want scooters to be parked only in permanent stations – a change that could significantly disrupt the operators’ business model.
The ABSV filed its case in September 2022, challenging the special-use permit issued by the State of Berlin that allows “free-floating” parking across the city. “Improperly parked e-scooters,” the association contends, “pose a major accident risk” and can become life-threatening obstacles for blind and visually impaired people.
Some measures are already in place. Berlin has 257 “Jelbi” stations where riders must leave scooters after use. The lawyer Michael Richter, who is himself blind, is calling for such stations to be mandatory for all journeys.
A study by the pedestrian group Fuss e.V. found that while e-scooters account for just 0.1 percent of journeys in Berlin, 56 percent are parked in a way that is obstructive, dangerous or illegal. Despite this, the Senate has slowed the rollout of designated parking spaces, citing a lack of funds.
