The Brussels Government announced on Friday that shared e-scooters will be allowed to remain on the streets of the region until the end of 2026, following an earlier decision by the Council of State that would see them gone from September.
The Brussels Government decided in June to ban shared e-scooters in the region from January 2027. A month later, however, the Council of State ruled that the plug had to be pulled much more quickly: providers Dott and Bolt were given until 1 September to remove the vehicles.
Now, Brussels Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) and Brussels Minister-President Boris Dilliès (MR) proposed a transitional arrangement, which will allow the scooters to remain on the streets until the end of 2026 after all.
"We are keeping our word: next year, shared scooters will be phased out in Brussels, and we will restore order and safety to public spaces," said Dilliès. "However, thanks to the transition phase, we are giving companies and users time to adapt."
Importantly, the Brussels Government's ban on shared e-scooters from 1 January 2027 remains in place. By that time, a gradual phase-out of shared scooters will be organised. This should "avoid potential chaos" and prevent the number of vehicles on the streets from increasing, a press release reads.
Illustration shows an electric scooters (e-steps), in Brussels, on Friday 26 December 2025. Credit: Belga/Nicolas Maeterlinck
When announcing the ban in mid-July, the Brussels Government cited the rising number of accidents and the use of e-scooters for criminal purposes, among other things, as the reasons for the decision. However, critics stressed that banning the vehicles altogether was too simplistic a solution.
This transitional arrangement will remain in force until May 2028. By then, a new tendering process will be organised to award two licences, each covering 4,800 scooters.
"We have avoided the cliff edge, but the fight is not over," Peter Beckett, a former Bolt employee and Brussels resident who launched a petition in July to keep e-scooters on the streets, told The Brussels Times.
"Getting rid of e-scooters without consulting a single user is just as bad an idea as it was when it was first announced," he said. "And once again, we are seeing decisions made behind closed doors without any involvement from the people they affect."
What about e-bikes?
Following several rounds of consultation with the bike-sharing operators, a transition period is now being proposed. In practice, this means that Brussels residents will still be able to use bike-sharing schemes after 1 September.
While new operators may apply to provide this service, the number of bikes permitted will be limited to 2,500 per operator to prevent overcrowding at the mandatory drop-off zones.
"It is good news that bike-sharing will remain in Brussels; many people rely on it to get home or to get to work. It is a sustainable and safe way to get around, and we can now continue to offer this service," said Van den Brandt (Groen).
A transitional arrangement for shared bikes was necessary because, at the end of July this year, the Council of State annulled all licences held by all operators, following an appeal by one operator (Lime) regarding the legality of the previous tendering procedure.
Currently, Brussels' Villo! shared bicycle system is operated by JCDecaux, but their licence will expire in September this year. The system is expected to get an update, but this will not happen before autumn 2028 – which would leave a two-year gap. However, due to the transitional arrangement, the continuation of service can be guaranteed.
In May 2028, a new tendering procedure will be launched. It will take into account the Council of State’s previous criticisms, the authorities stressed. The aim remains to treat all providers equally during the tendering procedure.
This proposal will be discussed by the Council of Ministers "very shortly".
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