Nextbike ordered to remove bikes from Berlin

Following a court ruling, the bike-sharing provider must withdraw its fleet from public streets in the German capital. The decision centres on the use of public space and has broader implications for shared mobility services.

The Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg has ruled that Nextbike may no longer operate its bike-sharing service in Berlin for the time being. In expedited proceedings, the court confirmed a lower court decision requiring the immediate removal of all 6,500 rental bicycles from public streets.

The ruling follows a dispute with the Berlin Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment. The authority had demanded that Nextbike apply for a special permit to use public space, arguing that the commercial deployment of thousands of bicycles constitutes a special use under road law. Nextbike rejected this view and challenged the decision in court, so far without success.

According to the court, the bikes represent large-scale commercial use of public street space and therefore require authorisation. It also pointed to frequent obstructions on pavements caused by parked or toppled bicycles, which can significantly impede other road users.

Nextbike previously operated the scheme with public funding on behalf of the State of Berlin. The contract expired on 30 June 2025 and was not renewed due to budget cuts. Despite this, the company continued operating without a permit, prompting the Senate in July to order an immediate halt to operations and the removal of the fleet.

spiegel.de (in German)