Karlsruhe transit operators VBK and AVG have issued a joint reminder that smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited across all bus and train stops. This announcement comes ahead of Baden-Württemberg’s new Non-Smoker Protection Act taking effect on June 1, 2026, which aims to safeguard children and vulnerable groups from secondhand smoke.
The updated state law, passed by the parliament in Stuttgart on February 4, 2026, legally extends smoke-free zones to public playgrounds, outdoor swimming pools, school grounds, and transit stations.
While the state-wide mandate is new, VBK and AVG emphasized that their local transit stops have been completely smoke-free for over a decade. Clear pictograms are displayed at all stations to remind passengers of the rules, which cover:
- Traditional tobacco cigarettes
- E-cigarettes and modern vapes
- Shishas and e-shishas
“Our stops are smoke-free,” explained Christian Höglmeier, Technical Director of VBK and AVG. “We welcome the state government’s clear signal for health protection and ask all passengers to show consideration for one another to make waiting more pleasant.”
While transit staff promote compliance, official enforcement and monitoring of the state Non-Smoker Protection Act remain the responsibility of local police authorities.
