Brussels is putting the brakes on shared e-scooters.
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After years of complaints over dangerous riding, pavement clutter and even links to organised crime, the Belgian capital has announced that rental e-scooters will disappear from its streets from January 2027 - joining a growing list of European cities turning away from the once-booming mode of transport.
The Brussels-Capital Region announced that the licences of the two remaining e-scooter operators in the city, Bolt and Dott, will expire at the end of this year.
From 2027, only shared bicycles will be available for hire in Brussels.
The move comes after a significant increase in incidents involving the vehicles.
The Brussels Times reports that some 666 people were injured in accidents in 2025 alone, according to regional figures. That was up 26% on the previous year.
Experts say that the design of e-scooters means that injuries are more severe, and riders who crash are more likely to suffer head and facial injuries.
There are also concerns that incorrectly parked scooters can obstruct public rights of way and cause difficulties for people with reduced mobility or the elderly.
The Brussels government also revealed that the scooters have been used by drug traffickers and organised crime groups, and that they were used in 25 shootings in 2025.
While the city is moving away from e-scooters, it will strengthen its bike sharing network, and plans to expand the availability of e-bikes on the streets.
Brussels is far from the first city in Europe to outlaw shared e-scooters; Madrid, Paris and Prague have already removed them from use.