Madrid is set to prohibit the use of app-rented e-scooters due to ongoing issues with reckless riding and disorderly parking. Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida announced that the city will revoke the licenses of the three authorized operators - Lime, Dott, and Tier Mobility - starting October, with no intentions to issue new permits to other companies.
The decision comes after these operators failed to meet the city's requirements for ensuring public safety. Since May 2023, Madrid had regulated the e-scooter rental market, allowing only these three companies to operate, with each permitted to rent out 2,000 scooters.
The operators were tasked with providing the mayor's office access to their data and implementing technology to restrict scooter use and parking to authorized areas. They were also required to prevent rentals in pedestrian-only streets and near historic parks. However, they did not fulfill these conditions, leading to the city's drastic measure.
This ban aligns Madrid with other global cities grappling with e-scooter-related issues. Paris, for instance, prohibited e-scooter rentals last year following a public consultation. The primary concerns driving these decisions include reckless driving on streets and sidewalks, and haphazard parking that often clutters public spaces.
The mayor's office stated that the "market was found to be incapable of meeting the requirements set by the mayor's office to ensure the highest level of safety for citizens." The affected companies have been given 20 days to appeal the decision.
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