Lisbon mayor wants to suspend shared electric scooters

In a video posted on his social media channels and in statements to the television channel Now, the mayor justified the measure by citing road safety concerns and the need to protect public space, calling the current situation “a disgrace” and saying the existing model “is not working.” Among the main issues, Moedas highlighted an increase in accidents, riding against traffic flow, use by minors, and the widespread abandonment of vehicles on sidewalks and public thoroughfares, noting that municipal services collect more than 1,200 improperly parked scooters every month.

The municipal initiative follows a petition launched by the Automobile Club of Portugal (ACP), which gathered approximately 20,000 signatures from registered Lisbon residents calling for a local referendum on the future of shared scooter licenses. Currently, the capital’s sector is served by the operators Bolt, Lime, and Bird.

If the municipal executive approves the suspension proposal—aligning Lisbon with the stance already taken by cities such as Braga—the operators would be granted up to 60 days to remove their entire fleets from the streets.