E-scooter sharing to end in Florence by April 2026

After two extensions, the municipal administration has decided not to continue the shared e-scooter experiment that began in 2020. A city council resolution, signed by mobility councillor Andrea Giorgio, states that the service cannot continue under the current conditions, given the new national road code and operational issues reported by the police.

The main problem, the city explains, is the impossibility of ensuring that users wear helmets, now mandatory regardless of age. “This creates a situation of potential systematic violation of the Highway Code, which is unacceptable for urban and road safety,” the council document says.

Road safety first

Mayor Sara Funaro said the administration was prioritising road safety and would “use every tool available to guarantee it”. Councillor Giorgio added that, although shared mobility remains a key part of the city’s transport policy, e-scooters often caused problems in traffic and parking, with vehicles frequently left on pavements, parked badly or driven in the wrong direction.

The service will officially cease on 31 March 2026, giving operators time to close their systems, end user contracts and remove the scooters.

Florence plans to expand bike-sharing

At the same time, Florence plans to expand its bike-sharing network, increasing the number of bicycles, especially pedal-powered ones, and reviewing tariffs to make them more accessible. The city is also studying upgrades to other forms of shared mobility, including car and scooter sharing.

The national rules for e-scooters were tightened in 2024, requiring helmets, insurance coverage, vehicle identification and restricting circulation to urban areas. Some details are still awaiting ministerial decrees.

Industry criticism

The decision has drawn criticism from Assosharing, the association representing mobility operators, which described Florence’s move as “a unique case in Italy”. It said the city was “renouncing innovation” and creating “a competitive void”. The association noted that other cities have sought practical solutions, such as distributing helmets, running safety campaigns or offering incentives, rather than withdrawing the service altogether.

According to Assosharing, closing the e-scooter system without a new tender or alternative plan risks making the market “unbalanced and non-transparent”, and could hurt Florence’s reputation as an innovative city.

Despite the debate, the city’s bike-sharing scheme continues to grow, with over 1.5 million rentals in 2024 and an 18% increase in early 2025.

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