Majority of Germans back tighter e-scooter rules, VdK poll finds

The Sozialverband VdK, which commissioned the research, said the findings amount to a political signal. 'Damit ergibt sich ein klarer Handlungsauftrag für die Politik,' the organization said, describing the results as a clear mandate for politicians to act. The VdK also explicitly welcomed planned changes to liability rules for e-scooters.

Liability and the burden of proof

Central to the VdK's concerns is the difficulty accident victims face in claiming damages. Under current rules, those harmed often cannot obtain compensation because they have to prove the rider was at fault. VdK President Verena Bentele said providers of rental e-scooters, who earn money by using public space, carry a corresponding duty of care: 'Aber wer mit dem öffentlichen Raum Geld verdienen möchte, wie es die Anbieter von Leih-E-Scootern tun, hat auch eine Sorgfaltspflicht.'

Bentele also pointed to the experiences of VdK members, particularly blind and visually impaired people. 'Uns schreiben immer wieder Mitglieder, insbesondere blinde Menschen, die über Roller gestürzt sind und dann noch nicht einmal Schmerzensgeld erhalten,' she said, describing members who have written to the organization about falling over scooters without even receiving compensation for pain and suffering.

Political response in the Bundestag

The political response is already taking shape. The German Bundestag is scheduled to debate a bill in first reading on Thursday aimed at placing greater responsibility on e-scooter rental providers and riders. The draft legislation is intended to make it easier for those harmed in accidents to seek redress, a goal that aligns with the VdK's long-standing demands.

The survey figures sketch a spectrum of public opinion rather than a single position. While a majority favors more rules, only a minority of 21 percent wants the heaviest form of intervention, and a notable 18 percent would prefer to remove e-scooters from public spaces entirely. The largest single group, at 36 percent, supports incremental measures such as designated parking zones, suggesting that parking and street-level disorder are particular pain points for the public.

A spectrum of public opinion

E-scooters have become a familiar sight in many German cities since their legal introduction several years ago, and their rapid spread has been accompanied by recurring complaints about pavement obstruction, inconsistent parking, and accidents involving pedestrians. The VdK's focus on blind and visually impaired people highlights a specific accessibility concern: scooters left in walking paths can pose a direct physical hazard, and current liability rules leave affected pedestrians with little recourse.

The Thursday first reading in the Bundestag is the first formal parliamentary step for the bill. First-reading debates typically allow lawmakers to set out positions rather than vote on final text, and any legislation would still require passage through additional readings and committee work before it could become law. The timing means the VdK poll is entering the political conversation at an early stage of the legislative process.

What the first reading means

For the VdK, the combination of survey data and the pending bill represents an opportunity to press for change. Bentele's framing of rental operators as commercial users of public space ties the debate to broader questions about how cities regulate shared mobility, and her emphasis on members' personal accounts gives the campaign a human dimension beyond the polling numbers.

The news dispatch reporting on the poll was carried by the dpa news channel under reference 260611-930-207045/1. With the Bundestag debate imminent, the survey provides both policymakers and advocacy groups with fresh evidence of where the German public stands on a transport issue that has moved from novelty to routine in less than a decade.