Following the back and forth with American firm Bird, Polfer was clear in her disapproval. "The way in which the firm proceeded was unacceptable and was not accepted." Having forced the firm to withdraw the e-scooters, the mayor added that "one cannot simply take up public space with impunity."
On the whole, seven firms applied for permission to operate sharing e-scooters, but all were rejected based on the police regulation which prohibits 'unnecessarily obstructing roads, squares, and other parts of public routes.' The mayor mainly takes issue with the danger of the free-floating system, which allows users to leave e-scooters wherever they desire, which, according to Polfer, includes the middle of the road or on tram routes.
Again, Polfer cited the same regulation, which allows the mayor to proceed to an 'administrative seizure' if such objects present a danger to public order and in public areas. The policy of the City of Luxembourg is not to fully exclude e-scooters, but instead to ascertain where they could be used and under which financial conditions. In any case, e-scooters must adhere to the Highway Code, which in of itself requires adapting to determine whether e-scooters can be used on pavements.
At any rate, the issue appears to be on standby now whilst the authorities investigate the implementing of such sharing scooters.
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George Hatzidikis - Electric scooters, skateboards and unicycles are the transport “Axis of Evil” of Luxembourg roads
