The LEVA EU member has announced an extension of its greening mobility efforts in the Belgian capital.
The micromobility provider deployed eight of its electric Stuyf Pickups to Brussels’ Cleaning Department and Green Service, helping it to reduce its carbon footprint and allowing its service workers to carry out essential work efficiently.
The city’s collaboration with EVpro is the latest in a whole host of sustainability plans that are being implemented in this region. In 2022, it published its sustainable mobility summary for the region with the STIB-MIVB, the Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company, intending to reduce its carbon emissions by 39% in 2030 compared to 2010.
It aims to do this by improving its public transport with the installation of 94 electric buses, 90 trams, 43 metro trains, and renewing 63 kilometres of track on existing tram and metro networks. More recently, in 2024, Brussels airport launched Belgium’s first autonomous shuttle for a sustainable mobility pilot.
By integrating EVpro’s Stuyf Pickups into its urban services, Brussels reinforces its commitment to cleaner mobility as it actions its plans in reaching its sustainable mobility targets.
In 2024, injuries related to shared micromobility continued a downward trend across Europe, with Micro-Mobility for Europe (MMfE) reporting a 7.9% reduction in injury risk per million kilometres compared to 2023. While the total number of shared e-scooter trips rose by 4%, the number of recorded injuries declined by 4%.
Long-term data shows a 29.8% reduction in fatal or medically treated injuries per million kilometres on shared e-scooters between 2021 and 2024. Shared e-bikes also showed a decline in such injuries by 13.3% from 2022 to 2024. Based on MMfE’s latest analysis, the risk of serious injury is lower for shared e-scooter users (15.4 per million km) than for shared e-bike users (20.1 per million km), and per-trip injury risk is also lower for e-scooters (7.1 per million trips) compared to e-bikes (11.1 per million trips).
MMfE, a coalition of leading European micromobility operators including Bird, Bolt, TIER-Dott, Lime, and Voi, attributes the safety improvements to multiple factors. These include upgraded vehicle technology, improved shock absorption and signalling, stricter speed regulation through geofencing, and regular vehicle maintenance. The use of educational campaigns in partnership with cities has also played a role in encouraging safe riding practices, such as avoiding riding under the influence or carrying multiple passengers.
Infrastructural developments across European cities have further contributed to safer conditions for micromobility users. Additionally, shared vehicles benefit from enforced speed caps and restrictions that cannot be overridden, unlike privately owned devices.
MMfE’s 2024 data is based on over 312 million e-scooter trips covering more than 562 million kilometres, and 79 million e-bike trips covering more than 237 million kilometres across the EU27, UK, Israel, Norway, and Switzerland.
The organisation continues to advocate for policies that support the safe and sustainable growth of micromobility. This includes calls to reduce overall speed limits in urban areas and for regulatory frameworks that treat e-scooters similarly to bicycles and e-bikes, rather than imposing disproportionate restrictions.
MMfE Co-Chair Christy Pearson commented: “A nearly 30% drop in injuries since 2021 shows that investments in infrastructure, rider education, and better vehicles are delivering real results. As cities look to reduce dependency on private cars and improve safety for everyone, shared e-scooters and e-bikes are proving they are not just sustainable, but increasingly secure. In addition, the demand for our members’ services continues to grow as we reached more than 312 million e-scooter and more than 79 million e-bike trips in 2024. We look positively in the future and want to strengthen our services and collaboration with decision makers on local, regional, national and EU level.”
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A proposal has been submitted to the Prague 1 City Council to introduce zones prohibiting the use of electric scooters in the city centre due to serious concerns about safety, public order, and excessive strain on public space.
The Prague 1 City Council has adopted a proposal recommending the introduction of a legislative process led by the city, through which access and movement of e-scooters in designated areas would be restricted. The ban would establish special zones where riding and parking e-scooters, whether privately owned or rented, would be prohibited. The zones would be marked with traffic signs, with exceptions only granted through individual authorisations and special cases. The proposal also calls for consistent enforcement by both municipal and state police.
Why is Prague considering banning electric scooters?
Prague 1 has long criticised the unregulated operation of electric scooters in its area. As early as 2023, the Prague 1 municipal council expressed clear opposition to rental e-scooters and urged the city to take appropriate action. The draft ordinance enabling the ban was approved by Prague City Council on April 12, with Traffic Commissioner Vojtěch Ryvola to begin formal negotiations with the city on adopting the ordinance.
Ryvola stated: “Every day in Prague 1 we deal with inconsiderate parking of e-scooters, danger to pedestrians, and illegal riding on pavements. The situation is intolerable—it’s time to send a clear signal. We are ready to defend public space and the safety of our residents.”
Previously, Prague 1 City Council led a successful campaign to ban the use of Segways in the city centre in 2016.
How will the ban on electric scooters work?
Upcoming contracts with the Technical Administration of Roads (TSK) will no longer include scooters. Without legal parking access, operators will be unable to continue services.
The City of Prague is expected to approve the new parking zones by the end of May. Upcoming contracts with the TSK will no longer include scooters but the TSK will still sign agreements with bike and e-bike providers. Without legal parking access, operators will be unable to continue scooter services. Shared scooter companies will then be required to remove their vehicles from city streets.
Enforcement will begin immediately following the May deadline. The TSK will monitor public spaces and remove any unauthorized scooters, issuing fines and requiring payment before any vehicle is returned.
According to Deputy Mayor for Transport Zdeněk Hřib, the new system is intended to promote responsible micromobility while reducing safety risks and visual clutter in public spaces.
A leading micromobility refurbishment company, has introduced a dedicated B2B platform designed to facilitate the buying and selling of used micromobility fleets among shared operators. This initiative aims to streamline fleet management while promoting sustainability through reuse and refurbishment.
The newly launched ‘Dedicated B2B Fleet Hub’ serves as a marketplace for micromobility operators to acquire or offload fleets efficiently. By connecting buyers and sellers, the platform addresses common industry challenges, including high upfront costs, bulk purchasing constraints, and the complexities of fleet decommissioning. Additionally, the hub seeks to reduce the number of micromobility devices that end up in landfills, reinforcing a circular economy approach.
“Cyclecure was founded in response to the rapid expansion of micromobility between 2018 and 2020, when a ‘growth-at-all-costs’ mindset led to images of discarded devices piling up for recycling,” said Cyclecure CEO Evrim Taskiran. “We are trying to save these devices from ending up in recycling. While recycling is praised by a lot of players, the real circularity lies in reuse and refurbishment stages before they end up in containers.”
Flexible fleet solutions for operators
The B2B platform caters to operators at various stages of their business cycles. It supports companies seeking to expand or refresh their fleet, startups testing new markets, and those exiting markets who need a streamlined process to decommission their assets. Operators can purchase as few as 10 units, with flexible options such as lease-to-own arrangements, bulk discounts, and tailored agreements.
Evrim highlighted the gap Cyclecure aims to fill, noting that while major operators can relocate or sell fleets internally, smaller operators often lack access to these networks. Evrim asks. “Why is there a need for services like ours?If major operators want to renew their fleets, the older ones are either relocated to other less critical markets or sold to other major operators in large quantities, as they’re already well-connected with each other. However, there are also hundreds of smaller operators with fleet sizes of 50 or a few hundred who don’t have these connections with major operators.”
He further explained, “When they ask for small quantities from major producers, they are typically limited by minimum order quantities (MOQs) and high costs of shipping from Asia. These small operators also have a limited budget, mostly obtained by bank loans rather than equity investors, hence want to experiment with new models or geographies with minimal capital investment.”
Streamlined buying and selling process
For buyers, the B2B hub lowers purchasing barriers by sourcing vehicles that align with their budget and operational needs. Clients can choose between fully refurbished vehicles ready for deployment or units requiring in-house refurbishment.
For sellers, Cyclecure conducts thorough inspections to determine fair market value and facilitates the search for suitable buyers, expediting the resale process and maximizing asset value.
To date, Cyclecure has collaborated with 15 operators and successfully extended the lifespan of over 5,000 micromobility devices. The launch of the B2B Fleet Hub aims to expand these efforts by streamlining negotiations, logistics, and flexible financing options for operators navigating the evolving micromobility landscape.
Urban Sharing, a leading micromobility management solutions provider, has unveiled significant advancements in its operational platform, Urban Crew, with the release of Versions 2.1 and 2.2. These updates aim to streamline fleet operations, enhance service-level agreement (SLA) compliance, and improve analytical capabilities for shared micromobility operators.
Effective fleet optimization is essential for shared micromobility operators, ensuring that vehicles are available where and when users need them. Proper management not only enhances profitability but also strengthens public trust in shared micromobility systems. Conversely, poor fleet coordination can result in disorganized vehicle distribution, leading to operational inefficiencies and negative perceptions among city stakeholders.
Urban Sharing has prioritized operational efficiency with the launch of Urban Crew 2.1, an enhanced version of its smart fleet management platform. Initially introduced as Urban Crew 2.0 in September 2024, the platform utilizes data-driven algorithms to automate and optimize tasks such as fleet rebalancing, battery swapping, and maintenance scheduling. To date, the platform has tracked nearly 50,000 micromobility assets, including vehicles and charging stations.
Key upgrades in Urban Crew 2.1
One of the most notable enhancements in Version 2.1 is the integration of SLAs into area-based compliance monitoring. Previously, the platform ensured compliance with SLAs at the asset level, such as maintaining a minimum station capacity. The latest update extends this capability by allowing operators to manage SLAs across designated service areas, providing more precise insights into operational performance.
Additionally, the updated platform introduces expanded battery and maintenance tracking, offering more granular data on fleet servicing. Urban Crew 2.1 also includes an advanced analytics dashboard that provides real-time and historical performance data on field teams. Operators can now assess efficiency not just by the number of battery swaps completed, but also by the overall impact on vehicle charge levels.
Advancements in Urban Crew 2.2
Building upon Version 2.1, Urban Crew 2.2 introduces customizable dashboards, allowing operators to tailor their data views to specific operational priorities. Whether monitoring overall system performance, zone-specific metrics, or SLA compliance, team members can configure their dashboards accordingly.
Another innovative feature in Version 2.2 is the ‘over 100% compliance’ capability, which enables operators to track SLA adherence beyond the minimum required levels. This function is particularly useful in situations where stations have overflow areas for additional vehicles. Furthermore, the update includes an SLA analytics heatmap, allowing operators to evaluate real-time and historical compliance trends across different areas.
Urban Crew 2.2 also introduces a major algorithmic redesign aimed at enhancing operational efficiency. The new system considers all relevant parameters—such as rebalancing needs, maintenance priorities, and battery levels—when determining optimal task execution. Rather than treating each asset independently, the updated algorithm holistically optimizes task assignments, ensuring greater efficiency in fleet operations.
Implications for the micromobility industry
According to Tom Nutley, Chief Revenue Officer at Urban Sharing, these updates address specific needs identified through customer feedback. The enhancements focus on operational dispatch improvements and advanced analytics, both of which are critical for improving service reliability and sustainability.
The refined platform also seeks to enhance the user experience for both operational teams and end-users. By centralizing communication within the platform and integrating task tracking, field teams can work more efficiently, ensuring that micromobility services remain reliable and accessible.
Ultimately, Urban Sharing’s advancements in fleet operations contribute to a more efficient and user-friendly micromobility ecosystem. By equipping operators with the tools necessary for effective fleet management, the company aims to promote broader adoption of sustainable transportation alternatives while fostering positive relationships between operators, users, and urban planners.
The full interview with Tom Nutley can be read on Zag Daily.
The Finnish government is introducing a new legislative proposal which would grant local authorities more control over shared micromobility vehicles such as electric scooters.
The move is part of a wider effort by Finland to enhance road safety and clamp down on reckless riding, with the ultimate aim of eliminating road traffic fatalities by 2050. Measures include a new blood alcohol content (BAC) limit of 0.5 for riders which will be accompanied by increased enforcement measures. Traffic controllers will be able to breathalyse cyclists (including riders of e-bikes) and riders of light electric vehicles.
The proposal introduces a micromobility licence, which would allow city authorities to set their own rules on operating hours, speed limits, and parking restrictions.
Sofia Johansson, Senior Specialist at the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications, emphasised the importance of local decision-making when speaking to Cities Today. “The micromobility licence provides municipalities with an effective way of guiding services while considering local conditions. The need for regulation varies between municipalities, and licence conditions must reflect those differences.”
The proposed introduction of the 0.5 BAC limit, and the enabling of traffic controllers to administer breathalyser tests, would align micromobility regulations with motor vehicle laws. The proposal also details new traffic control devices, and using geofencing to ensure that use of designated parking areas is adhered to.
Johansson also highlighted the role of technology, and flexibility, in supporting compliance. “Technology plays an important role in improving safety, especially through solutions like geofencing and speed limiting. The micromobility licence conditions will enable service providers to implement these measures effectively.” She added, “The legislation does not restrict the introduction of new technologies. All innovations that enhance safety are warmly welcomed.”
Johansson went on to note that, by allowing municipalities to make crucial decisions on fleet sizes and designated parking zones, the new framework could serve as a working model for other cities. “These measures ensure better organisation and reduce clutter, which has been a common issue elsewhere.”
A referral debate on the proposal will take place in the Finnish Parliament before proceeding to committee review. If approved, the statutory amendments are expected to take effect on 1 May 2025.
A recent analysis from Urban Sharing, led by Chief Revenue Officer Tom Nutley, offers a compelling vision of the global shared micromobility landscape in 2030.
As the sector rapidly evolves, Urban Sharing’s analysis highlights several key shifts that are expected to redefine how cities, companies, and riders interact with bikes, scooters, and urban transportation infrastructure.
Cities to take control of infrastructure
By 2030, cities are anticipated to exercise greater control over micromobility infrastructure. Unlike the current scenario, where multiple operators flood urban areas with vehicles, each with its own app, pricing, and parking rules, future cities will manage docking stations, charging hubs, and designated parking. This approach, already seen in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, looks at reducing street clutter, improving integration with public transport, and fairer competition among operators.
Specialisation within the industry
The micromobility sector, currently marked by companies attempting to manage everything from hardware manufacturing to app development and operations, is predicted to embrace specialisation. By 2030, Urban Sharing believes that three primary types of companies are expected to emerge: hardware specialists producing vehicles and batteries, software experts creating platforms and ancillary systems, and operational firms managing fleets and maintenance. This model, drawn from established logistics practices, is expected to enhance service quality, lower costs, and reduce business failures.
Industry consolidation and standardisation
A wave of mergers and acquisitions is forecast to reshape the micromobility landscape. Large firms such as Bird and Lime have already begun consolidating smaller competitors, with similar trends expected to continue. By 2030, standardised hardware, universal battery-swapping systems, and public tenders for operating contracts – similar to bus services – is predicted to become the norm. This consolidation is expected to deliver more reliable services, competitive pricing, and higher-quality vehicles.
Sustainability as a core investment driver
Sustainability will be central to securing funding in the micromobility sector by 2030. With cities and companies striving to meet net-zero targets, initiatives such as the European Union’s Social Climate Fund (SCF) are anticipated to play a pivotal role in financing sustainable transport. Additional financial incentives, including corporate sponsorships and government grants, will favour environmentally friendly mobility solutions, making sustainability an essential component of future business models.
Seamless integration with public transport
By 2030, micromobility is expected to be fully integrated into public transport networks. This vision includes micromobility hubs at train and bus stations, unified apps that cover all transport modes, subscription models for seamless access, and dedicated parking infrastructure. Cities like Paris and Barcelona are already moving toward this integrated system, and the trend is projected to become commonplace across major urban centers.
A vision for 2030
Urban Sharing’s forecast for 2030 paints a picture of a micromobility sector that is less chaotic, more connected, and effective in addressing urban transport challenges. The team states that achieving this vision will require cities to manage infrastructure responsibly, companies to specialise and collaborate, investors to prioritise sustainable solutions, and public transport and micromobility systems to work in tandem rather than in competition, to deliver cleaner, less congested, and more accessible cities for everyone.
New mobility services such as electric scooters are examined in a new International Transport Forum (ITF) report, Measuring New Mobility: Case Studies and Best Practices.
The publication provides guidance to policymakers on using and interpreting data from these services to develop effective transport policies.
The focus of the new report is on real-world learnings from 10 global cities, with detail on what did and didn’t work, and outlining what others can learn from these cities’ experiences. This new report builds on previous ITF work which focused on the classification and measuring of new mobility options.
Key learnings for cities
Collect only the data you need. Gathering essential data only will help enable the making of informed decisions, without overwhelming operators or city systems.
Collaborate across government levels: Whether local, regional, or national, there are clear benefits with streamlined data collection efforts.
Invest in skills and tools: Through activities including training staff and building better IT systems, public authorities can pave the way to handling mobility data confidently.
Malaga City Council is set to revoke the temporary authorizations granted to six micromobility companies operating scooter and bicycle rental services in the city.
The decision, announced by Mayor Francisco de la Torre during the Debate on the State of the City, signals the potential end of a service that has been a fixture in Malaga for nearly a decade.
Regulatory breaches
The companies affected by the decision—Lime, Bird, Link, Dott, Bolt, and Tier—were found to have violated the conditions of their permits, according to Mayor De la Torre. Each company was previously authorized to operate 225 personal mobility vehicles (PMVs), with Dott and Bolt also permitted 350 electric bicycles.
“The proliferation of this service in cities, including Malaga, creates problems that we must address,” stated De la Torre. The city’s temporary authorizations were initially intended to sustain the service after a legal challenge disrupted efforts to regulate the sector through a concession model.
Legal hurdles
In 2022, the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) appealed the city’s plan to streamline operations under a single concessionaire. The CNMC argued that this system imposed undue restrictions on market access. While the lawsuit remains unresolved in the National Court, the City Council issued temporary permits to keep micromobility services operational. The revocation of these permits now places the future of the rental scooter market in jeopardy.
Rising safety concerns
The decision to revoke authorizations also comes amid growing concerns about the safety of electric scooters. Data from the Malaga Local Police reveals a sharp 72% increase in accidents involving scooters over the past three years. In 2021, 164 accidents were reported, rising to 212 in 2022 and 282 in 2023. During the first five months of 2024 alone, 187 incidents were recorded, 38 of which required hospital care.
Future implications
Without these temporary permits, the micromobility sector in Malaga could face a significant pause, if not a complete cessation. The City Council’s efforts to regulate the industry were intended to address issues such as oversaturation, safety, and public nuisance. However, ongoing legal and operational challenges have hindered progress.
As Malaga grapples with this decision, it remains to be seen whether alternative solutions will emerge to address both the legal and practical complexities of micromobility in the city.
