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ABSV withdraws lawsuit against e-scooters – dispute over sidewalk safety remains!
The ABSV has withdrawn its lawsuit against e-scooters in Berlin. A new procedure to avoid accidents is being sought.
ABSV withdraws lawsuit against e-scooters – dispute over sidewalk safety remains!
The General Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABSV) has withdrawn its lawsuit against the Berlin Senate Department for Transport. This happened on October 1, 2025 due to a formal error. The ABSV had originally demanded that e-scooters no longer be allowed to be parked on sidewalks or left carelessly, as this poses a significant risk of accidents for visually impaired people. The association also sought to have the special use permits issued declared unlawful, as reported by rbb24.
The court pointed out that the ABSV would have had to sue to have the specific approval revoked, which would also have required the e-scooter rental companies to be involved. In view of this complexity, the ABSV and the Senate Department for Transport have now considered an out-of-court settlement. However, details are still unclear. If this agreement cannot be reached, the ABSV is planning a new lawsuit.
Dangers caused by the free-floating system
The ABSV's criticism is primarily directed against the current "free-floating system", in which users can park e-scooters on sidewalks without fixed pick-up and return stations. Chairman Dietmar Polok emphasizes how dangerous incorrectly parked e-scooters are for blind and visually impaired people. The lobby association Fuss e.V. also supports this position and points out that such circumstances also endanger older people with walkers.
A recent study shows that 56 percent of e-scooters stand or lie around without fixed stations. The ABSV therefore requests information about the providers who have received corresponding special use permits in the free-floating model. This issue is not only relevant locally in Berlin, but is also confirmed by the German Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, which notes similar problems throughout Germany.
The ABSV sees clear regulations and the introduction of fixed pick-up and return stations as a solution to increase safety for all road users. Lawyer Michael Richter, who represents the ABSV in court, hopes that the legal steps will lead to more clarity in dealing with e-scooters, which still pose a great risk of accidents t-online notes.