Bolt said on 23 October that pulling the scooters from Lisbon’s streets could result in fewer affordable and sustainable ways to get around for its residents. According to Bolt, locals represented a majority of trips carried out in 2025, Algarve Daily News reports.

“In 2025, 78% of trips [on shared scooters] were made by residents, mostly on first- and last-mile journeys and to connect with public transport. Taking them off the city’s streets cuts the accessible, affordable and sustainable mobility options open to people who live in Lisbon,” Bolt said in a written statement to journalists.

This statement follows Lisbon City Hall’s approval of a proposal by Carlos Moedas’s (PSD) administration to suspend shared e-scooter schemes in the capital by the end of the year.

Following European examples

According to the local authority, the decision “contributes to a more organised and safer city, with a more orderly and respectful public space for everyone,” and follows the example of other European capitals, such as Paris, Madrid, or Brussels, Diário de Notícias reports.

In a press release, Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon, said removing the e-scooters was a needed measure. “It was a necessary step that we had to take. Evidence of a problem with these vehicles being improperly parked in public spaces and the resulting disruption to pedestrian traffic, particularly affecting the elderly, people with reduced mobility, blind citizens, children, and families with strollers, are some examples. Soft mobility is fundamental, and something we advocate for, but different modes of transport must coexist and ensure the safety and respect of those using public spaces.”

Speed limits and parking spots

Bolt insists it has complied with the laws set out in its 2023 agreement with the city: a restricted top speed of 20km/h and mandatory parking in designated spots.

“Parking spots are set by the municipality, not by the operators. About 70% of the roughly 1,900 spots now designated are on pavements,” the company said.

Since 2023, Bolt has put forward “hundreds of more suitable, better signposted and better distributed alternatives” to make correct parking easier and free up space for pedestrians.

The company claims to have even offered to fund signage, road markings, and dedicated parking stations, and argues that improved infrastructure offers another solution.

Bolt acknowledges that poor parking “especially affects people who find it harder to get around on foot”, but argues the answer is “to have parking spaces off the pavement and clearly marked.”

Bolt said it currently picks up the entire bill for enforcement, including towing, fines, and storage of vehicles. “We proposed that an equivalent investment be channelled into improving this infrastructure,” the statement reads.

Safety concerns

Bolt highlights that operators of shared scooters have logged 608 reported incidents since 2023, across more than 42 million kilometres travelled. This year, only 0.5% of reported incidents have been classed as serious.

“Safety remains a priority,” the company said, noting that, unlike privately owned scooters, shared ones have a built-in speed limiter capped at 20km/h, and parking rules that can be policed.

Expanding e-bike service

Bolt scooters will stay on the streets of Lisbon until the changeover date. The company also revealed that it wants to expand its shared e-bike service as an alternative for many of the residents who use scooters in their daily lives. Bolt also said it is open to discussing with City Hall the possibility of a different model that would let their shared scooters stay in the city.

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