Vienna's New Town: E-scooters banned from the city

The Vienna police conducted a focused operation targeting e-scooter and bicycle riders on Thursday, during which they apprehended an individual with 172 outstanding fines totaling over 20,000 euros. The person was detained after being found with a scooter capable of reaching speeds up to 79 kilometers per hour, far exceeding the legal limit of 25 km/h. According to police statements, this case represents an exceptional situation given the number of unpaid penalties. The operation carried out by the Vienna Regional Traffic Department included checking both e-scooter and bicycle riders throughout the city. During these checks, authorities identified several vehicles modified to exceed speed limits. One such e-scooter reached a top speed of 79 km/h, while others were recorded at varying speeds including 68 km/h, 63 km/h, 49 km/h, 48 km/h, 42 km/h, and 39 km/h. These findings led to administrative charges against the respective owners. During the operation, 136 summonses were issued, and 46 reports were filed due to violations of traffic regulations. Most of these infractions involved running red lights, using mobile phones while riding, and entering pedestrian zones or sidewalks. This follows another incident earlier in the week involving a 15-year-old who fled from police on his e-scooter, committing 17 traffic offenses before being caught again in the Favoriten district. The teenager had been observed by officers during a focus operation against youth crime, after they witnessed him and another juvenile exchanging an unidentified item. After ignoring multiple stop orders, the youth attempted to escape, prompting a police officer to fire two warning shots into loose earth in a nearby green area. Despite this, the teenager initially evaded capture but was later located near the Amalienbad. His e-scooter was tested and found to reach speeds of 41 km/h, leading to immediate fines and ongoing investigations related to potential drug offenses. New regulations regarding e-scooters will come into effect in Vienna's public transport system starting September 1st. Under these rules, e-scooters will no longer be allowed inside buses and trams, even when folded. This decision aims to improve passenger flow and reduce space consumption within vehicles. However, manually powered scooters can still be transported freely at all times. In underground trains, e-scooters can only be taken during non-peak hours, mirroring current policies for bicycles. Allowed times include weekdays from 9 AM to 3 PM and from 6:30 PM until service ends, with full access permitted on weekends and holidays. Priority is given to wheelchairs and baby strollers, and only two wheels or scooters can be placed in each entry zone. These changes reflect feedback from passengers who felt hindered by the presence of e-scooters in crowded carriages. With approximately 2.5 million daily passengers, the new measures aim to enhance comfort and safety aboard public transport. Violators face a fine of 50 euros for breaching these rules, particularly if they ride their e-scooters on platforms or use escalators. E-scooters are now legally classified as vehicles under Austrian law since May 1st, 2026, aligning them more closely with bicycles in terms of regulation. As a result, similar restrictions apply to e-scooters as they do to bicycles within Vienna’s public transportation network. Riding e-scooters on escalators is prohibited for safety reasons, reinforcing the need for users to adhere strictly to the updated guidelines.