Entrainment of electric vehicles in public buses

STUVA research leads to new standards

For many people with reduced mobility, electric vehicles (e-scooters) are an indispensable tool for social participation. In order to be able to cover even longer distances barrier-free, it is very important to take them with you on public transport buses. However, after 2014 reports of critical situations with e-scooters in buses and a first STUVA report came to the conclusion that unsecured and transversely to the direction of travel of the bus parked scooters are not sure, the Association of German Transport (VDV) had its members in November 2014 recommended not to take e-scooters on public buses.As a result, a large number of transport companies in Germany had suspended the transport of these aids in their buses.

The STUVA was therefore commissioned by the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Urban Development and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MBWSV NRW) to investigate the technical issues under which conditions the safe entrainment of e-scooters in scheduled buses could be made possible. The question was answered in two consecutive reports.

On the basis of the results of the STUVA study, consultations of the relevant stakeholders took place at a round table. As a result, the Ministry of Transport NRW has worked with the other federal states and, in coordination with the Federal Ministry of Transport, to draft a uniformly formulated decree nationwide. This governs the conditions under which the carriage of e-scooters by a transport company may no longer be rejected. Binding requirements are placed on the technology and equipment of scooters and buses. For the users training is recommended. If the requirements are met, there is a reason not to carry the scooter only if the space for the e-scooter is already occupied by other passengers or things.