Lime, a supplier of electric scooters, stopped operating in Cologne in mid-March."To ensure our human health and safety," the US company said.

Dutch start-up Dott, with a fleet of hundreds, was launched in Cologne and Bonn only in early March.Although other rental companies dismantled scooters long ago, the colorful scooters still exist in the Rhine metropolis.

Suppliers have also reduced their fleets.However, he remained active despite safety precautions.The dealership said its employees wore gloves on the street to disinfect the scooters.

Based on its own information, Dott wants to provide more opportunities for rent providers affected by current local public transport restrictions."We believe that micro-transport providers are an important part of public transport and that this infrastructure must be reliable, even in times of crisis," the company explains.

In an effort to get the most important helpers to work during the crisis, medical staff are now rolling around the cathedral city for free: hospital and pharmacy staff, as well as volunteers caring for the elderly and the needy, are being given free access to electric scooters.