Inline skates/roller skates

Up-to-date information on inline skates/roller skates, requirements for use of the public highway, age, legal basis

• General
• Use
• Age
• Requirements for using the public highway
• Legal basis

General

Inline skates (Rollerblades®) are a type of roller skate. Unlike traditional roller skates, the wheels of inline skates are positioned one behind the other. Inline skates are used as a means of transport, as well as in sports and leisure activities.

Use

Inline skating/rollerblading is allowed on pavements or footpaths and zebra crossings, in pedestrian zones, on residential and "living streets" (Spielstrassen) and on cycle paths, but not in long-distance cycle lanes.

Age

Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to skate/rollerblade unaccompanied on roads open to road traffic. They must be supervised by someone over the age of 16.

If the young person has a cycling pass, this entitles them to use inline skates/roller skates unaccompanied once they reach their 10th birthday.

Requirements for using the public highway

If inline skates/roller skates are used on the pavement, in a pedestrian zone or on a residential street, users must adjust their speed such that it is appropriate to the speed of pedestrians using these areas. If you are skating on a local cycle path, you must ride in the mandated direction at all times and observe all regulations applicable to cyclists

Legal basis

Section 88a of the Straßenverkehrsordnung (StVO)