The mayor of Porto, Pedro Duarte, stated on Friday that shared electric scooters "are a problem" in the city and advocated for more enforcement. The mayor, elected on a PSD/CDS-PP/IL coalition ticket, stated that the Road Traffic Code already includes requirements that have been relaxed by enforcement authorities, asking police authorities to be more attentive to this mode of transport.
Pedro Duarte also pointed to "a relevant contractual issue," noting that a contract was signed in 2025 by the previous administration that concessioned the scooters to certain companies. The municipality has been in talks with these companies, which have reportedly shown openness to reducing the number of scooters in the city and regulating their traffic.
The mayor announced his intention to "substantially reduce the use of scooters in the city of Porto," replacing them with other soft mobility modes, such as bicycles. According to Pedro Duarte, cycling is a mode the council wants to promote, but warned that it must be done safely for users and for pedestrians and other public road users.
This year, new mayors have already eliminated shared scooter services in Vila Nova de Gaia, Braga, and Espinho. The companies Bolt, Lime, and Bird stated that they have been adapting their operations to municipal rules, citing collaborative work with the local authorities of Lisbon and Porto as examples.
