On October 21, the draft amendment to the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) was presented to the press by Mobility Minister Peter Hanke. The most important points are the introduction of video surveillance for traffic calming measures and new rules for e-scooters and e-bikes that are not pedal-assisted. There are no plans to make helmets mandatory for e-bikes. Open questions regarding the impact on special bikes and transport bikes have been clarified by the Ministry of Transport (BMIMI). So what does the draft amendment to the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) with changes to the Motor Vehicle Act (KFG) and the Driver’s License Act (FSG) contain?

How e-bikes are to become e-mopeds and now motor vehicles

The City of Vienna provided strong impetus for the amendment to the StVO. We summarized the debate surrounding e-mopeds, bike lanes, and suitable infrastructure here. In 2024, Cycle Competence member Mobilitätsagentur Wien commissioned a study by the Institute for Transport Sciences at TU Wien to increase the feeling of safety on Vienna’s bike lanes in view of the increasing number of so-called “e-mopeds.” The latter term refers to e-bikes in the form of motor scooters that have an electric drive controlled by a twist grip, i.e., without pedals. Vienna’s City Councilor for Transport, Ulli Sima (SPÖ), wanted to use this to achieve a legal distinction between bicycles, micro e-vehicles, and mopeds. The increasing number of e-scooters and their rising accident rates also played a major role in this.

Food delivery drivers in Vienna as the reason for part of the amendment to the Road Traffic Regulations

The draft law (available for download here) now attempts to meet these requirements by adding the following sentence to Section 2 of the Road Traffic Regulations: “Vehicles of class L1e-B (two-wheeled mopeds) without pedal drive in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 168/2013, OJ L60 of March 2, 2013, are not considered bicycles.” This is intended to move the above-mentioned “e-mopeds” from bike paths to the road as two-wheeled mopeds without pedal drive. In doing so, they will be subject to motor vehicle regulations: registration requirement, license plate, insurance requirement, driver’s license requirement, motorcycle helmet requirement. As a result, it will be interesting to see which vehicles delivery service providers will switch to as an alternative – combustion-engine mopeds with a maximum speed of 45 km/h are certainly not conducive to road safety and climate protection.

Facsimile from the draft law dated October 21, 2025

The amendment does not affect standard e-bikes and e-transport bikes that have a so-called pedelec drive, i.e., motor control by pedaling, up to 25 km/h. With reference to the EU regulation on vehicle classes (here in the original), there were still unresolved questions regarding the classification of multi-track bicycles and transport bikes with electric drive via twist grip, which were clarified by the BMIMI with regard to the amendment to the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO):

Special models with electric assistance without pedals, ranging from bicycles for people with limited mobility to Austrian postal service transporters, are therefore not affected by the proposed regulation. Single-track e-bikes with twist grips and without pedals will be classified as motor vehicles. The six-week review period is now underway, and the draft law can be adapted until at least December 2, 2025, if necessary. After that, the law will be submitted to the National Council for approval. The new traffic regulations for e-bikes are scheduled to come into force on October 1, 2026.

Camera-based traffic calming made possible

In another important innovation, the Ministry of Mobility (BMIMI) is creating a legal framework for the use of camera-based systems for traffic calming in cities and municipalities. In the future, entry and driving bans for multi-lane motor vehicles in a defined area will be controlled as part of an automated access management system in order to implement traffic calming measures for the benefit of traffic safety and quality of life when necessary. According to the BMIMI, the systems may only be used in clearly defined access areas, such as entrances to city centers. The camera-monitored areas are to be marked with an additional sign featuring a camera symbol and new road markings. The legislation is scheduled to come into force on May 1, 2026, enabling traffic calming measures such as those in Vienna’s city center to be implemented.

However, camera-based surveillance of bus lanes, footpaths, cycle paths, or pedestrian zones as a standalone measure is not permitted—with the exception of so-called school streets, where traffic calming measures are given special priority for the benefit of schoolchildren. In addition, single-track motor vehicles such as motorcycles or mopeds are excluded from automated recording in the draft bill. Questions arise here regarding data protection, which is regulated in the draft bill as follows:

Facsimile from the draft law dated October 21, 2025

Helmet requirement: What will change for e-scooters and e-bikes?

New rules for e-scooters and e-bikes are also included in the amendment. E-scooters will in future be clearly defined as vehicles, no longer as small vehicles. When the amendment comes into force on May 1, 2026, the following will apply to them: No passengers or goods may be carried, helmets are compulsory until the age of 16, and they must be equipped with indicators and a bell. In addition, the blood alcohol limit will be lowered from 0.8 percent to 0.5 percent. For young e-bike riders, a helmet requirement will be introduced for those under the age of 14.

The woom e-bike for children on the move in Vienna

Draft law: Download on RIS (german)