City permits exemption for the 'Age-defying Riding' initiative

On Thursday, 21st August, 2025, the city of Gütersloh will welcome a new service aimed at improving accessibility for certain groups of people. The Ordnungsamt of the city has granted an official exemption permit for the Rikshas of Verein Gütersloh tatkräftig e.V., allowing these traditional, pedal-powered rickshaws to operate within a specific section of the Berliner Straße within the pedestrian zone.

This initiative, part of the "Radeln ohne Alter" project, aims to help elderly or mobility-impaired people access shops and offers in the specified part of the pedestrian zone. The Riksha rides are intended to enhance the overall shopping and offer experience, providing a valuable piece of participation and joy for those with limited mobility.

The Riksha rides are allowed at walking speed, ensuring they do not endanger the function of the pedestrian zone as a safe and relaxed place to stay. Notably, bicycles and e-scooters are still not allowed between 11 am and 7 pm in this area to maintain safety and order.

The city administration, especially the Ordnungsamt, has carefully examined the application and granted the permit. The first chairperson (erste Vorsitzende) of the association Gütersloh tatkräftig e.V., Monika Paskarbies, expressed her gratitude for this initiative. Mayor Matthias Trepper also expressed his appreciation for the association's work, stating that this cooperation addresses the needs of people with limited mobility without compromising safety and order in the pedestrian zone.

Interested individuals can contact Verein Gütersloh tatkräftig e.V. for a ride with the Riksha. The permit is exclusive to the area of the middle Berliner Straße and is for the transport of disabled or mobility-impaired persons only. The Riksha rides are a new service to improve accessibility and contribute positively to the overall shopping and offer experience in the specified part of the pedestrian zone.