Lisbon mayor moves to suspend shared e-scooter scheme

Lisbon Considers Halting Shared E-Scooter Operations

Poinews.com – Lisbon could soon put its shared electric scooter system on hold after Mayor Carlos Moedas said the current model has created safety and public-space problems across the Portuguese capital.

In a video released on social media on Thursday, Moedas said he intends to seek a suspension of the scheme, arguing that the system has failed to operate responsibly. His proposal is expected to go before the city council on 21 October.

This is a disgrace and it is going to stop. The system as it stands is not working. Scooters are being ridden the wrong way down streets, people are behaving dangerously, accidents are on the rise, and scooters are being left abandoned in public spaces.

The mayor’s comments point to concerns that extend beyond the vehicles themselves. Shared scooters are intended to offer short-distance travel options, but their use depends on riders following traffic rules and leaving them in appropriate places after a journey. Moedas said both areas have become persistent challenges in Lisbon.

More Than 1,200 Scooters Collected Each Month

One of the clearest signs of the problem, Moedas said, is the number of scooters removed by municipal services. Lisbon City Council has been collecting more than 1,200 scooters each month, he said, reflecting the scale of vehicles left in unsuitable locations around the city.

That is why we have taken the decision. We are going to suspend the shared scooter system in Lisbon.

A suspension would affect the three companies currently operating shared scooters in Lisbon: Bolt, Lime and Bird. The proposed move concerns the shared-rental scheme rather than a general prohibition on privately owned electric scooters.

For residents and visitors, the outcome could change how short trips are made in areas where rental scooters are commonly available. The services allow users to locate and unlock a scooter through an app, then leave it after completing their trip. However, the system also requires clear rules on where vehicles can travel, park and remain without obstructing streets or public spaces.

Proposal Heads to City Council

Moedas indicated in an interview with Now on Thursday that he would bring the measure to the council. He said he hoped the Socialist Party would support it, allowing an immediate halt to shared scooter operations in the city.

The mayor referred to Braga, where the Socialist Party had also backed a comparable suspension. Support from across the council would be important for Lisbon if the proposal is to move quickly from an announced intention to an enforceable decision.

The 21 October meeting is therefore likely to determine whether Lisbon pauses the scheme immediately and what happens to the companies’ existing operations. The available information does not set out how long any suspension would last or what conditions operators might need to meet before services could return.

Debate Was Already Growing

The issue had already become a subject of public debate before the mayor’s announcement. In August, the Automobile Club of Portugal launched a petition aimed at holding a local referendum on the future of shared scooters in Lisbon.

The proposed referendum would give residents a chance to state whether they wanted Lisbon City Council to stop authorising electric scooter-sharing operations on municipal public land after current licences expire. That wording focused on the future licensing of the services, while the mayor’s proposal would pursue a more immediate suspension.

The difference matters. A decision not to renew licences would allow existing permissions to run their course, whereas an immediate suspension could bring the present system to a stop sooner. Council members will need to consider how the proposed measure fits with the current licences and the city’s responsibility for managing public areas.

Safety and Street Management at the Centre

Moedas linked his decision to reports of dangerous riding, including scooters travelling against the direction of traffic, as well as an increase in accidents. He also highlighted the impact of abandoned vehicles on public space.

These concerns illustrate the difficult balance facing cities that permit shared micromobility services. Rental scooters can provide a practical option for relatively short urban journeys, but their benefits can be undermined when users disregard traffic rules or leave vehicles where they create obstacles.

Lisbon’s upcoming council discussion will test whether a full pause is seen as the most appropriate response. It may also shape the wider debate about what standards shared-scooter operators and riders should meet if such services are to continue in the capital in the future.

For now, the mayor has made his position clear: he believes the existing system cannot continue in its present form. The council meeting on 21 October will show whether that view commands the support needed to suspend shared e-scooter services across Lisbon.