Brussels will remove most dockless shared bicycles and e-scooters from public spaces by September 1, 2026, following a ruling by Belgium’s Council of State that annulled the operating licences of several shared micromobility operators.
Following the ruling, Brussels Mobility instructed the affected operators to cease operations and remove their vehicles from public spaces by September 1, 2026.
The decision follows a two-year legal dispute initiated by shared mobility operator Lime. In December 2023, the Brussels government launched a selection process to reduce the number of shared e-scooters from 20,000 to 8,000 and regulate shared micromobility operators. The process resulted in licences being granted to Bolt and Dott for shared e-scooters, and to Bolt, Dott and Voi for shared bicycles. Lime, which was not selected, filed five appeals with the Council of State, arguing that the tender process lacked transparency and was overly rushed.
The Council of State ultimately annulled the licences granted to Bolt, Dott and Voi, ruling that the decisions were insufficiently justified and based on unlawful decree provisions.
In response to the ruling, Lime said the decision confirmed the illegality of the 2023 process and expressed hope that Brussels would establish a transparent and legally compliant framework for future tender opportunities.
Following the ruling, the Brussels government must establish a new legal framework for shared mobility. According to the European Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA-EU), Brussels plans to launch a new tender for shared bicycles.
For shared e-scooters, Brussels had previously planned a full ban starting January 1, 2027. The ruling means that the currently licensed dockless shared e-scooters affected by the decision must now be removed by September 1, 2026.
Services operating under separate contracts remain unaffected. LEVA-EU confirmed that Villo! shared bicycles and Felyx shared e-scooters may continue operating under their respective agreements. Private e-bikes and e-scooters are also not subject to the ruling.
Photo: Dott
