Bird challenges Florence e-scooter ban in court

Bird has filed an appeal with the regional administrative court (Tar) against the decision by the Municipality of Florenceto suspend shared e-scooter services in the city from April 1, 2026.

The company notified the city administration in recent days, challenging a resolution approved by the municipal executive in November that orders the service to stop. According to Bird, the measure contains significant inconsistencies, including what it describes as clear errors in how the service is classified.

Dispute over how the service is defined

One of the main points raised by the company concerns the description of the service as “free floating”. Bird argues that this is incorrect, stating that its operations in Florence are based on fixed parking stations, in line with requirements agreed with the city administration.

The company says this misclassification has a substantial impact on the overall assessment of the service and on the reasons used to justify the suspension.

When the measure was approved in November, the city administration also cited compliance with national road safety rules among the reasons for the suspension.

In particular, Florence officials pointed to the introduction of stricter helmet requirements for e-scooter users under Italy’s revised Highway Code, which came into force at national level. According to the Municipality of Florence, the shared e-scooter system operating in the city did not fully meet the new regulatory framework, a concern that contributed to the decision to stop the service from April.

Legal and political context

Bird says the decision to appeal was also influenced by the approach taken by the city government towards operators in the micromobility sector. The company argues that a court ruling is needed to clarify the legitimacy of the suspension, which it says has already attracted political criticism, including from industry associations and environmental organisations.

The Municipality of Florence has justified the planned suspension as part of a broader review of shared micromobility services in the historic centre and other parts of the city. The administration has cited issues such as public space management, safety and compliance with local rules.

What happens next

If the suspension takes effect as planned, shared e-scooters would disappear from Florence in early April. The Tar appeal could delay or modify that outcome, depending on whether the court grants interim measures or later rules on the substance of the case.

For now, the service remains active while the legal process moves forward.

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