While most Portuguese cities are trying to adapt to shared e-scooters, Braga has decided to take a step in the opposite direction. The municipality has terminated its contracts with scooter operators and given them 60 days to remove around 500 scooters from the streets. However, this is not a permanent ban but a temporary suspension until new regulations are introduced.

The decision was driven not by ideological debates about the future of urban mobility, but by hard data. Since the beginning of 2026, police have recorded 37 accidents involving e-scooters. Thirty-three people were injured, including two who suffered serious injuries. Another ongoing problem has been scooters left on sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and in places that obstruct people with strollers or reduced mobility.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect is that the current mayor, João Rodrigues, was one of the people who championed the introduction of shared e-scooters in Braga eight years ago. Today, he says the idea itself is still valid, but without clear rules it simply stopped working. The city has therefore decided to remove the service first and only then develop a new regulatory framework.

This is where Braga differs from other major municipalities in Portugal. Lisbon, Porto, and most other cities are not abandoning shared e-scooters. Instead, they are reducing the number of operators, creating designated parking areas, introducing lower speed limits in certain zones, and increasing enforcement. The goal is simple: preserve a convenient form of transport while making it safer for pedestrians.

It is also important to note that Braga’s decision applies only to shared e-scooters. People who own private electric scooters will still be free to use them, although the municipality has said it will step up enforcement of traffic regulations.