The government of the Brussels-Capital Region has decided to ban shared e-scooters from the region from 2027, citing a sharp increase in accidents, growing nuisance for other road users and the use of the vehicles in criminal activities. The move will see the disappearance of shared scooters operated by companies such as Bolt and Dott once their permits expire at the end of 2026, while private e-scooters will remain legal for the time being.
The decision places Brussels alongside cities such as Paris in France, Madrid in Spain, and Prague in Czechia, all of which have already removed shared e-scooters from their streets in recent years.
Rising accident toll drives political action
According to the Brussels government, safety concerns played a major role in the decision. In 2025, 666 people were injured in accidents involving e-scooters in the Brussels-Capital Region, representing a 26% increase compared with 2024. Authorities also pointed to the persistent problem of badly parked scooters obstructing pavements, cycle paths and public spaces, creating difficulties for pedestrians, people with reduced mobility, parents with pushchairs and older residents.
Brussels Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) argued that people who fall from an e-scooter are more likely to suffer injuries than cyclists and said improperly parked scooters make the city less accessible. She stressed that the decision was not solely about safety, but also about shaping a transport system with sufficient alternatives for fast and efficient urban mobility.
Concerns over organised crime
Criminal misuse of shared scooters was another key factor behind the ban. Brussels public prosecutor Julien Moinil has previously stated that shared e-scooters were used in 25 shooting incidents in the capital during the past year. The government believes removing shared scooters from the streets will provide police and judicial authorities with additional tools in their efforts to combat organised crime and drug-related violence.
The region’s leadership described the measure as a clear policy choice. Brussels Minister-President Boris Dilliès (MR) said the government had chosen to reconcile individual mobility with public order by removing shared scooters while maintaining shared bicycle services.
Shared bicycles to remain and expand
While shared scooters will disappear, Brussels intends to strengthen its bicycle-sharing offer. The current Villo! scheme, operated by JCDecaux, will continue beyond the expiry of its existing concession. The operator’s commitment has been extended until September 2028 to ensure continuity while a replacement system is developed.
The future bicycle-sharing network will continue to rely on fixed docking stations throughout all Brussels neighbourhoods and will consist entirely of electric bicycles. The service will remain under the supervision of the Brussels Region through a public procurement process.
Operators warn of unintended consequences
The ban has triggered strong criticism from the micromobility sector. Bolt said it was deeply disappointed by the decision and argued that policymakers were failing to distinguish between private and shared scooters.
The company maintained that shared scooters are heavily regulated, speed-limited to 20 kilometres per hour and continuously traceable, whereas private scooters are not. It warned that removing shared scooters would encourage users to switch to privately owned vehicles that are less regulated and harder to monitor.
Bolt also argued that shared scooters have become an essential part of Brussels’ transport network. According to the company, more than 150,000 residents use the service and nearly 40,000 journeys are made daily, making shared scooters an important component of urban mobility rather than a leisure activity.
Dott echoed those concerns, arguing that the accident figures cited by the government do not specifically concern shared scooters. The company also highlighted recent investments in the sector and suggested that vulnerable road users, including cyclists and scooter riders, face risks largely because of interactions with cars and heavy vehicles. In its view, banning scooters does not address the root causes of road safety problems.
The criticism was shared by Voi Technology, which does not currently operate shared scooters in Brussels and therefore faces little direct impact. Nevertheless, the company argued that the government’s decision removes the most regulated and accountable category of e-scooters from the streets while leaving other forms untouched.
Shared mobility sector argues regulation works
The sector’s representative body, Way To Go, also warned of negative consequences for users. The organisation argued that shared scooters play a crucial role in so-called first- and last-mile journeys, helping travellers complete the final stretch between public transport hubs and their destination. It maintained that many residents rely on scooters because no practical alternative exists, particularly during hours when trams, buses or trains are unavailable.
Way To Go pointed out that Brussels has already demonstrated that regulation can be effective. According to the organisation, the number of shared scooters operating in the city has fallen by 44% in recent years while the number of trips has continued to rise slightly. It acknowledged that reckless riding and poor parking remain issues but argued that the solution lies in better regulation rather than the elimination of shared mobility services.
Jobs at risk as unions criticise decision
Labour representatives have also expressed concern about the consequences for workers. Trade union ACV-CSC Metea criticised the government’s decision-making process, saying insufficient consultation had taken place with employers and social partners. The union estimates that around 60 jobs at Dott alone could be at risk and warned that employees are now facing considerable uncertainty about their future.
Part of a wider Belgian debate
The Brussels decision comes amid a broader debate about e-scooter safety across Belgium. In May, the Antwerp hospital group Ziekenhuis Aan de Stroom (ZAS) called for a nighttime ban on shared scooters between midnight and 8am, citing the severity of injuries sustained in late-night accidents.
At the federal level, Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) is preparing to introduce mandatory helmet use from September for riders of e-scooters capable of exceeding 20 kilometres per hour. Shared scooters, however, are expected to avoid the requirement by maintaining their speed limit of 20 kilometres per hour.
The Brussels government’s decision marks one of the most far-reaching interventions in Belgium’s micromobility sector to date, ending the era of shared e-scooters in the capital while shifting the focus towards a future built around shared electric bicycles.
