E-scooters could be banned in Brussels by 2027 after authorities chose not renew its contracts with top scooter providers.

The Brussels-Capital Region announced it would not be renewing the licences of the two remaining e-scooter operators, Bolt and Dott, The Brussels Times reports.

The move was taken as officials said the scooters have caused safety concerns in the Belgian capital, including cluttering public spaces, causing a rise in accidents and being used in criminal activities.

Last year, 666 people were injured in incidents involving electric scooters, a 26 per cent increase from the previous year, according to regional figures obtained by the local newspaper.

Some city residents also told the newspaper that bad experiences on e-scooters that have led to injuries have caused them to back the ban.

"What changed my mind is that my accident wasn’t just bad luck. Research shows e-scooter riders suffer head and facial injuries more often than cyclists and helmet use is notoriously low,” Brussels local Diana said.

Some residents, however, say the e-scooters provide a practical and affordable way to travel around the city, while others complain of the nuisance of the poorly parked scooters.

Brussels-Capital Region Mobility Minister, Elke Van den Brandt, argued people riding e-scooters are more likely to be injured than cyclists, and poorly parked scooters create obstacles for older residents, people with reduced mobility and parents with strollers.

"This decision goes beyond safety alone; it is about choosing a city with enough alternatives to get around quickly and efficiently," Van den Brandt added.

After the contracts end, only hireable bicycles will be available in Brussels. Ms Van den Brandt announced that by 2028, Brussels will get electric bicycles with fixed stations in all districts.

Bike rental company Villo! already has 350 locations throughout the Brussels region, but this will expand it further.

Other European countries have already taken steps to crack down on e-scooters.

Cities have imposed strict safety rules, such as helmets and insurance in Italy, or banned rentals altogether, as in Paris and Madrid. Finland has barred under-15s from using them.

Prague also recently banned e-scooter rentals after the mode of transport was blamed for causing "chaos on sidewalks”.

The UK government committed last summer to regulate e-scooters after deaths and hundreds of serious injuries caused by crashes.

There were 1,312 collisions involving e-scooters in England, Scotland and Wales in 2024.

Read more: Sardinian beach bans umbrellas for anyone between 10 and 65 years old

Read More