Taunus: Noise ban also for e-motorbikes

By being quieter and cleaner, electric motorbikes often gain access to areas where petrol or diesel-powered motorbikes are not allowed. However, this is no longer the case in the Hochtaunus district.  It is true that e-motorbikes were initially allowed on the routes. However, it seems that this was a mistake on the part of the traffic authorities. Now, however, it is clear that electric motorbikes are also subject to the driving ban.  

According to the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO), the bans should cover motorbikes with a maximum speed of more than 45 km/h and a cubic capacity of more than 50 cubic metres. This was explained by the authority in the context of announcing the motorbike bans for various stretches of road in Taunus. Thus, riding e-motorbikes would be allowed there, as they have neither an internal combustion engine nor a cubic capacity. However, the permission was based on an imprecise wording, which led to an interpretation error. This is because the StVZO defines speed and engine capacity in the context of "and/or".  

After a request by the Federal Association of Motorcyclists, the traffic authorities have now clarified the matter. It is not only the StVZO that is important for the interpretation of the ban, but mainly in this case the definition of the traffic sign 255, a traffic sign that declares the ban for all motorbikes, sidecars, mopeds and mopeds. It refers to the type of vehicle entered in the registration certificates and not to the type of drive. Thus, according to the authority, the driving bans imposed in Hochtaunus on certain routes do not only apply to motorbikes with internal combustion engines. Class L3e electric motorbikes (motorbikes, two-wheeled vehicles over 50 cm³ and/or over 45 km/h) are also affected by the route closures.  

Of course, the Taunus is not the only region in Europe to introduce measures against the annoying noise level. In many countries, such as the Netherlands and Austria, citizens have had enough of noise, and especially of loud motorbikes. Due to noise pollution, motorbikes are banned in certain areas of Austria, he said. For example, a noise protection zone in Außerfern has already been active since 2020. If the stationary noise of a motorbike here is louder than the permitted 95 decibels, the rider receives a fine of €220. However, the principle followed here is different from that in the Hochtaunus district. In fact, the Tyrolean noise protection zone does not apply to the much quieter electric motorbikes and still remains a success.  

This raises doubts about the actual usefulness and effectiveness of the Taunus ban. Will the region take a step backwards or will it stick to its position? In the meantime, discontent is growing among electric motorcyclists who enjoy riding the roads of the Hochtaunus. Some are even planning to take legal action.