Reduced automobile traffic in Dresden with the introduction of electric scooters and bikes
Dresden is set to significantly expand its sharing services, introducing a new fleet of e-scooters and e-bikes to supplement the popular MOBIbikes. The move is in response to the growing demand for these alternative modes of transport and aims to provide more options for urban mobility.
From August 1, 2025, two providers will offer 2,000 e-bikes, while three providers will provide 2,500 e-scooters in the city. Not all the new quotas will be available from the start, with the numbers gradually introduced in the following weeks.
The operation of these sharing services will no longer be free of charge or permit-free. The city council has adopted the "Sharing Guidelines for Mobility" that the new providers will implement. These guidelines aim to ensure a city-friendly and harmonious operation of the services.
To maintain order, Dresden plans to set up provider-neutral sharing stations. Digital blocking zones will also be set up near these stations, ensuring that the e-scooters and e-bikes can only be returned there.
The new requirements for the providers include adherence to fleet distribution quotas, geolocation verification, detection of lying e-scooters, short response times, and regular exchange with representatives of visually impaired and mobility-impaired people. Providers will also be required to provide geolocation data for city monitoring.
During the transition period, there may be a higher number of incorrectly parked vehicles in some areas. However, these sharing stations will be constructed in a way that sensitive pedestrian areas remain free of obstacles.
The existing e-scooters of the LIME company in the city will be replaced by the new services. Companies such as BOLT, VOI, RideMovi, LIME, and VOI have been granted special use permits to operate in Dresden. BOLT, VOI, and RideMovi have been granted up to 833 e-scooters each, while LIME and VOI have been granted up to 1,000 e-bikes each.
An interim assessment and possible readjustment are planned after one year. The city aims to ensure that the devices function well and are available throughout the city, bringing additional revenue to the city's budget. The new services can be rented out more intensively as feeder services to the train station or for direct trips.
With over 6,500 trips already made daily with MOBIbikes, making it the most successful bike-sharing offer in Germany in recent years, the introduction of the new e-scooters and e-bikes is expected to further boost urban mobility in Dresden.
