Urban mobility news in Portugal

Lisbon City Council approved a proposal on Wednesday to suspend all shared electric scooters across the capital, giving operators 60 days to remove their vehicles. The initiative, introduced following mounting complaints over dangerous riding and blocked pedestrian walkways, passed with backing from Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas and his ruling coalition.

The Socialist Party (Partido Socialista), Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda), and Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português) abstained, while Livre and the Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal) voted against. Moedas argued the suspension is necessary to restore safety and clear public space while the city drafts a municipal regulation, pointing to similar bans in Paris, Madrid, and Brussels.

Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas announced plans to suspend and remove shared electric scooters from the capital, pointing to persistent safety complaints and cluttered pedestrian pavements. The proposal still requires formal approval by the Lisbon City Council (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa). While commercial scooter operators face an exit from the city, the municipal bike-sharing system Gira will remain in service and receive further fleet investments.

Update: Bolt Contests Ban as Operator Highlights Safety Record

Micro-mobility operator Bolt expressed regret over the lack of dialogue with municipal authorities, stating that only 0.5% of reported incidents in 2026 were serious. Bolt also pointed to police data showing that over half of fatal scooter accidents involved privately owned devices rather than commercial rental fleets.

Data from Porto's Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan reveals that pedestrian accidents in the city caused 13 deaths and 24 serious injuries between 2019 and 2023. These incidents were primarily concentrated in high-traffic areas, including the city center, Boavista, and the seafront.

Starting September 15, heavy goods vehicles will be prohibited from using the Via de Cintura Interna (VCI) in Porto between 7:00 and 21:00 on weekdays. The government approved the measure to reduce traffic congestion on one of the country's busiest roads, with the Porto City Council confirming the implementation date.