Source: VRT, Zag Daily Image credit: Polly, Unsplash

Following infringements, the Belgian capital’s Council of State has annulled the contracts of most dockless e-scooter and bike operators, requiring a new shared mobility legal framework to be prepared. Therefore, from September 1st, Dot, Voi and Bolt vehicles are no longer allowed on the street.

The region and operators are working together on finding a temporary solution for shared bikes as they wait for the new legal framework.

Some shared mobility services will still be permitted, such as Villo shared bikes, and Felyx shared e-scooters, due to them running under different contracts. Private e-bikes and e-scooters will still be allowed.

How the Council of State ruling came about

It started in 2023, when Brussels’ government announced its plans to decrease the numbers of its shared e-scooters there by 12,000 (from 20,000 to 8,000). Consequently, the number of operators there reduced, with only Dott and Bolt being allowed to continue operations. As well as Volt, both Dott and Bolt were also given permission to offer their shared bicycle services.

As a result of the shared scooter reduction, Lime was an operator that had to move its vehicles out of the city, which led to a dispute where they made 5 appeals with the Council of State, arguing that the selection process was rushed and lacked transparency.

After a legal dispute of over 2 years, the Council of State issued a final ruling that there were infringements in the government’s selection proceedings. This caused it to issue an annulment in the permits of shared scooters and bikes.

The Council of State explained its annulment of the contracts was because of the selection decisions not being justified adequately, with parts of the decree being unlawful.

Brussels Mobility sent a letter to the affected licensed operators to cease their activities in Brussels by September 1st.

What’s next for shared micromobility in Brussels

In the meantime, the Brussels government has to create a new legal shared mobility framework to avoid procedural errors such as the mentioned infringement in the future. Then Brussels will open a new tender for shared bicycles. In regards to e-scooters, Brussels was already planning to enforce a ban on them on 1st January 2027.