Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas has announced the suspension of shared electric scooters in the Portuguese capital, citing growing safety concerns, dangerous behaviour by riders and the widespread abandonment of vehicles in public spaces.
The announcement was made late on Thursday, October 15, in a video published on social media, in which Moedas said the current system was failing and that action was needed to protect pedestrians and other road users.
“What is happening is a disgrace, and it is going to end,” the mayor declared.
“The system is not working,” he added, pointing to scooters travelling against the flow of traffic, dangerous riding, increasing numbers of accidents and vehicles left obstructing public spaces.
According to Moedas, more than 1,200 abandoned or improperly parked scooters are collected from Lisbon’s streets every month.
The mayor stressed that everyone should be able to move around the city safely, making clear that the existing shared scooter system could no longer continue in its current form.
Although the mayor did not specify when the suspension would take effect, he said operators had been given 60 days to remove their shared e-scooters from Lisbon’s streets.
🛑🛴 Vamos suspender o atual sistema de trotinetes partilhadas em Lisboa. Queremos uma Lisboa com passeios livres, seguros e acessíveis, onde todos possam circular em segurança. https://t.co/AMiGvdGafe— Carlos Moedas (@Moedas) October 15, 2026
Rising number of accidents
The decision comes amid growing concerns about accidents involving electric scooters across Portugal.
According to figures published by the Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP), 1,369 scooter-related accidents were recorded nationwide in 2024, resulting in 58 serious injuries and three deaths.
The upward trend continued into 2025, with 623 accidents registered in the first four months of the year alone.
More recently, a 15-year-old boy died in September following an accident involving an electric scooter in Lousada, northern Portugal.
The ACP has identified Lisbon, along with Faro, Porto and Setúbal, as among the districts recording the highest numbers of scooter-related incidents, based on data from the PSP and GNR police forces.
Shared electric scooters have become a familiar sight in Lisbon, particularly in tourist areas and the city centre, where they are widely used for short journeys.
However, complaints about reckless riding, pavement obstruction and scooters left in inappropriate locations have increasingly raised questions about their impact on pedestrian safety and public space.
Moedas’ announcement signals a significant change in Lisbon’s approach to shared micromobility, although further details of how the suspension will be implemented have yet to be announced.
In June, after a surge in accidents, Braga Council ordered the suspension of shared e-scooter services across the municipality, giving operators 60 days to remove their fleets.
However, e-scooter operators have previously defended their services. In August, Bolt, Lime and Bird told Lusa that they had consistently adapted to municipal regulations and introduced measures to tackle improper parking. The companies argued that road safety concerns should be addressed through better infrastructure, enforcement and dedicated parking areas rather than banning scooters altogether.