Lime, a prominent bike and scooter-sharing company, has been ordered to cease operations in Brussels after Belgium’s Council of State upheld the city’s decision to restrict micromobility service providers in the capital.
The ruling brings a definitive end to a legal battle that began in 2023, when Brussels authorities moved to cap the number of shared bike and e-scooter operators, citing the need to improve service quality, safety, and public space management.
As part of the restructuring, the region selected Bolt and Dott as the sole providers of e-scooters, while Voi, Bolt and Dott were granted licenses for e-bike services.
Lime and Voi challenged the decision in court, arguing that the selection process was rushed and lacked transparency. They claimed that reviewing 15 different applications in under 30 days did not allow for a thorough and impartial evaluation.
In January, a temporary reprieve was granted, allowing Lime and Voi to continue operations until their licenses expired.
Lime’s license expired on Wednesday, 3 July, while Voi’s is valid until 23 August. With the Council of State now siding with the Brussels City Region, Lime has no legal basis to continue operating in the capital.
The ruling was met with swift reaction from competitors. In a joint statement, Bolt, Dott and Voi welcomed the decision and urged both Lime and city authorities to act quickly.
“Now that decision is taken, Lime must now cease operations in Brussels immediately and withdraw their scooters and bikes,” the companies said. They further called on the city to “take the necessary action to enforce this decision without delay.”
The licensed operators emphasized their investments in safety features and compliance with city regulations, arguing that it would be unjust for unlicensed competitors to continue operations “without consequences.”
According to them, their financial and technical commitments to meet Brussels’ urban mobility framework are being undermined by Lime’s continued presence. The Brussels Times reached out to Lime for comment, but the company has not yet responded.
Brussels currently has around 7,500 shared bicycles and 8,000 licensed e-scooters on its streets, operated by Dott and Bolt. As of Thursday, only these providers are authorized to offer micromobility services in the city.
The Council of State’s ruling sets a precedent that could influence how other European cities regulate shared mobility services in the future.
