Prague is set to ban shared electric scooters from January 2026, joining a growing number of European capitals that have moved to restrict or prohibit the popular but often criticized micro-mobility service.
The measure was announced by Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib of the Pirate Party, who cited the scooters’ use primarily as a tourist attraction rather than a means of transport. This has led to “chaos on sidewalks and pedestrian areas.”
The new municipal regulation, effective in January 2026, aims to establish “clear rules” and “clean up public space from uncontrolled scooter traffic.”
Frequent complaints from residents include scooters speeding on sidewalks, obstructing pedestrian zones and parking spaces, and being abandoned in inappropriate locations.
Authorities also noted that electric scooters have a higher accident rate compared to bicycles. Bicycles will continue to be permitted but will require specific parking locations.
Prague follows cities like Paris, which implemented a ban in 2023, and Madrid, which did so in 2024. Malta became the first European Union country to prohibit the service nationwide.
A 2023 socioeconomic study examining shared electric scooters concluded that despite some benefits, safety issues incur millions of dollars in costs annually.
For instance, in 2019, accident-related healthcare expenses in Lisbon, Portugal, amounted to approximately $5.4 million, a figure 11 times higher than the combined environmental and economic benefits generated by scooter use.
Last year, Spain’s General Directorate of Traffic considered banning electric scooter use for minors under 16 as part of new regulations to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety.