As in Paris, the municipality considers them too dangerous. The Madrid city hall has announced the banning of self-service electric scooters on its streets, due to the risks that these devices pose to the “pedestrian safety”this Thursday, September 5. “We are withdrawing the authorization of companies renting scooters on city streets”announced the city’s mayor, José Luis Martinez-Almeida (PP, right), in a message on the social network X. The ban on self-service scooters “will take full effect in October”.
Three companies currently have permits to rent electric scooters on the streets of the Spanish capital, and will therefore have to withdraw their fleet of vehicles: Lime, Dott and Tier Mobility. These companies “did not comply with the conditions we imposed to ensure the safety of pedestrians, especially the elderly”assures José Luis Martinez-Almeida to justify his decision. The city hall, which will not grant new permits, criticizes these three groups in particular for the lack of suitable insurance and technology to prevent vehicles from driving or parking in prohibited areas.
The supply of self-service electric scooters surged in the late 2010s in many large cities, driven by operators such as Lime, Bird, Dott, Wind and Bolt. This offer was once seen as an asset to diversify the supply of travel in the city. But it quickly gave rise to criticism, against a backdrop of increasing traffic accidents.
Paris, Montreal, Las Vegas and New Orleans have decided to ban them after having authorized them for a time – joining Barcelona, Toronto and New York, which never gave the green light. Many other cities have implemented restrictions, sometimes draconian, reducing the number of vehicles in circulation, the maximum speed or prohibiting use of sidewalks.
