Lisbon’s shared e-scooter scheme could be suspended after Mayor Carlos Moedas announced plans to halt the service, citing dangerous riding, rising accidents and scooters abandoned in public spaces.
Moedas announced the proposed suspension on Thursday in a video posted on social media, describing the current system as a “disgrace” and saying it was no longer working as intended.
“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 said.
He added that Lisbon’s city council had been collecting more than 1,200 scooters every month, a figure he cited as evidence of the problems facing the scheme.
“That is why we have taken the decision. We are going to suspend the shared scooter system in Lisbon,” Moedas said.
The proposal is expected to be discussed at a city council meeting on 21 October. Its implementation will depend on the council’s decision, meaning the announcement does not, by itself, confirm that the services have already been suspended.
Three companies currently operate shared e-scooter services in the Portuguese capital: Bolt, Lime and Bird. A suspension would affect the companies’ shared scooter operations in Lisbon, although the precise arrangements and timing would depend on the measures approved by the council.
The move follows growing public debate about the management of shared electric scooters in the city. In August, the Automobile Club of Portugal (ACP) launched a petition seeking a local referendum on the future of shared scooters in Lisbon, according to Euronews.
The proposed referendum would have asked residents whether they supported the Lisbon City Council ending authorisations for shared electric scooter schemes on municipal public land once existing licences expired. The initiative sought to give residents a direct say in whether the services should continue operating under the current licensing framework.
Speaking to the Now outlet on Thursday, Moedas said he intended to present the suspension proposal to the city council. He also expressed hope that the Socialist Party would support the measure, pointing to the party’s backing for a similar suspension in Braga.
The mayor said he wanted an immediate suspension of shared scooters in Lisbon, although the proposal still needed to be considered by the council.
The debate centres on how the city should manage shared mobility services while addressing concerns about road safety, rider behaviour and the use of public space. For now, Bolt, Lime and Bird remain the three operators identified in Lisbon’s shared e-scooter market, with the future of their services dependent on the outcome of the council’s deliberations.
