Ban on e-mopeds for food delivery workers in Austria

The place of Amir and his colleagues lies in the in-between. They park their e-mopeds on a green strip in the partial shade of a few sparse trees; it is their unofficial break room. To their right, cars rush along the Belt, one of Vienna's central traffic arteries. To the left of them, pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooters crowd on a cycle path. Amir and his colleagues drive electric mopeds as food deliverers for Foodora. And that means they are not wanted on the right or left of the green belt.

E-mopeds and their “riders,” as the drivers call themselves, have been part of the cityscape in Austria’s major cities for years. As long as they bring burgers or haul groceries up to the fifth floor on a rainy Sunday, very few people have a problem with riders like Amir. But their vehicle of choice has become a political issue: E-mopeds weigh up to 80 kilos and accelerate as quickly as a car, which makes them a danger on cycle paths. The Ministry of Transport decided they had to go - and made short work of it: As of October 1st, e-mopeds are de facto banned in Austria. This is a blessing for many road users. An existential problem for Amir and thousands of other food delivery workers.