MADRID — Spain's capital will prohibit e-scooter rentals through mobile apps after the three licensed operators failed to enforce restrictions on their users' driving and parking, Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida announced.

Martinez-Almeida stated that the licenses of Lime, Dott, and Tier Mobility will be revoked in October, and the city has no intention of issuing new licenses to other operators.

"The market has proven unable to meet the safety requirements set by the mayor's office to protect citizens," he said in a statement on September 5.

E-scooter sharing systems have faced criticism globally due to users' reckless driving on streets and sidewalks, as well as disorganized parking that clutters public spaces.

Since May 2023, Madrid's city council regulated the e-scooter rental market, granting authorization only to Amsterdam-based Dott, Germany's Tier Mobility, and U.S.-based Lime, whose scooters are also accessible through Uber's app.

Each company was allowed to rent out 2,000 scooters.

The operators were required to provide the mayor's office with access to their data and implement technology that ensured customers parked only in designated areas and prohibited rentals in pedestrian zones or near historic parks.

However, they failed to meet these conditions, and the statement mentioned that they have 20 days to appeal.

Dott, Lime, and Tier did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Madrid's decision follows Paris, which also banned e-scooter rentals in 2023 after a public consultation.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters