Lisbon Residents with Navegante Pass to Enjoy Free Shared Scooter Rides

Lisbon is set to enhance its public transport system by integrating shared scooters into the Navegante pass benefits, starting September. This initiative, described by the city council as “a further step towards integrating soft mobility into the public transport system”, aims to encourage residents to opt for sustainable transport options over private cars.

Key Changes and Benefits

• Free Access: Residents holding a Navegante pass will soon enjoy free rides on shared scooters, similar to the existing benefits with Gira bikes and certain parking areas.
• Implementation Timeline: Due to necessary technical integrations, the free access is expected to be fully operational by September.

Enhanced Regulations

• Restricted Zones: The city plans to expand no-ride zones for scooters, including BUS lanes, gardens, pedestrian-only areas, and central roadways like Avenida da Liberdade. These restrictions will be enforced through geofencing technology.
• Operational Limits: A cap on the number of scooters has been set at 1,500 per operator in winter, potentially increasing to 1,750 in spring and summer, to manage urban clutter effectively.

Background

Since 2023, Lisbon has implemented several measures to regulate scooter use, including mandatory parking hotspots, a speed limit of 20 km/h, and a significant reduction in available vehicles by 73%. Currently, around 6,000 scooters operate under authorization in the city.

Filipe Anacoreta Correia, Deputy Mayor for Mobility, highlighted that these adjustments aim to improve public space and make the Navegante pass a comprehensive mobility solution, urging residents to “give up their cars”.

This move is part of Lisbon’s broader strategy to address the challenges posed by the rapid adoption of shared scooters, including parking issues, excessive numbers, and speed, while awaiting the finalization of a municipal scooter regulation.