Rome's competition authority has imposed a combined fine of €2.675 million on three e-scooter and e-bike rental companies—US-based Lime and Bird, and German operator Dott—for failing to honour free-ride offers tied to the city's public transport subscriptions.
The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) concluded after an investigation launched in November 2025 that the companies had obstructed access to free ride packages reserved for holders of the Metrebus season ticket. Subscribers were entitled to complimentary rides, but the companies' inadequate organisational structures meant long waits for the passes and a cumbersome activation process. The watchdog also cited Bird for arbitrarily deactivating user accounts.
This is the first penalty of its kind in Italy against shared micromobility operators. The fine reflects growing scrutiny of the sector, which has expanded rapidly across European cities but has also raised safety and consumer-protection concerns.
Italy's new e-scooter rules
While the antitrust action targets consumer rights, Italy has simultaneously moved to regulate e-scooter circulation on the roads. In April 2026, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport announced new rules that came into force on 16 May. According to the Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI), the measures aim to make electric vehicles easier to identify, given their widespread use and the high number of crashes: 3,895 incidents last year, resulting in 23 deaths and 3,751 injuries.
The key changes include a mandatory licence plate and insurance for e-scooters. The identification plate is a sticker for vehicle owners, costs a flat €8.66, and can be transferred if the scooter is replaced. Riding without a plate carries fines ranging from €100 to €400.
Other existing rules remain unchanged: riders must be at least 14 years old, helmets are compulsory, as are turn and brake indicators and front and rear lights. The speed limit is 20 km/h, and carrying passengers or objects, towing, and using e-scooters on non-urban roads are prohibited. These rules apply to both privately owned and shared e-scooters, including those operated by Lime, Bird and Dott, which hold licences in Rome valid for 2023–2026 and renewable through a public tender.
European clampdown
Across Europe, the response to e-scooter accidents has been varied but increasingly strict. In Germany, the number of insured e-scooters has grown more than fivefold since 2023, and they now account for 40% of third-party damage claims, according to the German Insurance Association. In July, Germany proposed a draft law that would make rental companies, including Lime and Bolt, directly responsible for accidents involving their vehicles.
Hungary, which saw a 70% increase in injury crashes involving e-scooters in 2025 compared with the previous year, is preparing to amend its highway code. Spain has made helmets compulsory nationwide and raised the minimum age to 15.
Some countries have gone further. France banned rental e-scooters in 2023 following a popular referendum. Belgium has announced it will withdraw these vehicles from January 2027, while expanding bicycle and e-bike infrastructure. These moves reflect a broader European debate about the balance between innovation and public safety, a topic also relevant to electric short-haul flights and other emerging mobility technologies.
Possible legal repercussions
For now, Italy's clampdown has focused on the new highway code and financial penalties for companies. But consumer groups are considering further action. Codacons, a leading consumer protection association, said in a statement: "We believe that the users involved should be compensated for the damage suffered. For this reason, following the Competition Authority's decision, Codacons is assessing possible legal action against Bird, Dott and Lime to defend the interests of all Rome Metrebus season-ticket holders, users harmed by the unlawful practices identified by the Antitrust watchdog."
The fines come at a time when Italy's tourism sector is booming—Ferragosto 2026 is expected to draw 17.5 million tourists—and shared e-scooters are a popular way for visitors to get around. However, the industry's future in Rome and beyond may depend on how well operators comply with both consumer protection and road safety regulations.
