A German court has ordered bike-sharing operator Nextbike to withdraw its rental bicycles from public streets in Berlin, siding with city authorities in a dispute over the commercial use of public space, Der Spiegel reported.
The Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg ruled in expedited proceedings that Nextbike may not continue operating its service in the German capital for the time being. The decision upholds a lower court ruling requiring the immediate removal of around 6,500 rental bicycles from public streets.
The case stems from a conflict with the Berlin Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment, which argued that the large-scale commercial deployment of rental bicycles constitutes a special use of public road space under German road law. On that basis, the authority said Nextbike was required to apply for a special permit to continue operating.
Nextbike rejected that interpretation and challenged the requirement in court, but judges agreed with the city’s position. In its ruling, the court said the bikes amounted to large-scale commercial use of public street space and therefore required authorisation. It also cited frequent obstructions on pavements caused by parked or fallen bicycles, noting that these could significantly impede pedestrians and other road users.
Nextbike had previously operated the Berlin bike-sharing scheme with public funding on behalf of the State of Berlin. That contract expired on June 30, 2025, and was not renewed due to budget cuts. Despite the lapse, the company continued operating the service without a permit, prompting the Senate in July to order an immediate halt and the removal of the fleet.
The ruling could have broader implications for shared mobility providers in Berlin and other German cities, as authorities reassess how services such as bike-sharing and scooter-sharing use public space and whether additional permits or fees should apply.
