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Florence to End Shared E‑Scooters by April 2026

City leaders cite safety risks plus new national rules, with bike-sharing flagged as the alternative.

Overview

  • The municipal cabinet approved a resolution that ends the structured rental service on April 1, 2026, after two consecutive extensions.
  • Officials say compliance with the 2024 Highway Code—helmet use, vehicle identification and insurance—proved unworkable for rentals, with operators reporting frequent theft of supplied helmets.
  • The city cited persistent misuse, including riding on sidewalks, wrong‑way travel and disorderly parking, alongside limited effectiveness of municipal enforcement.
  • Operators Bird, Bit and Ridemovi said they were not consulted, disputed the safety rationale and signaled possible legal challenges.
  • Florence will expand bike‑sharing, which recorded over 1.5 million rides in 2024 and an 18% early‑2025 increase, placing the city with Paris and Madrid as Prague prepares a similar halt.