Zurich is moving to sharply reduce the number of shared e-scooters on its streets in a bid to curb complaints about badly parked vehicles, safety risks and disorder in public space. The city is reportedly considering a system that would cut the fleet from 7,350 vehicles to 3,000 and limit operators to just three companies.
Under the reported proposal, Zurich would allow only three providers, each with up to 1,000 vehicles, instead of the current eight operators. The city also wants e-scooters parked only at designated locations in some areas, especially in the city centre and near stations.
The measures are expected to be discussed further in the city parliament in the coming weeks. According to the reports, the aim is to bring order to what critics describe as a growing “wild west” of shared mobility vehicles.
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E-scooters: Pavement Clutter, Dangerous Riding, Increasing Accidents
The main complaints are about pavement clutter, dangerous riding and increasing accidents. Zürich recorded 94 e-scooter accidents last year, and more than half were linked to falls by young intoxicated men.
The city is also responding to pressure from pedestrians and politicians who say the current system is too permissive and leaves scooters blocking sidewalks and public spaces. Some operators have already introduced online reporting tools to let users flag badly parked vehicles.
The Zurich plan comes as the federal government also considers tighter rules, including a possible helmet requirement. Wider streets and better cycling infrastructure are being discussed as ways to reduce conflicts between scooter users and pedestrians.
The issue has been controversial in Switzerland for years, with critics arguing that cities allowed e-scooters to spread too quickly and only began tightening rules after the problems became obvious. Shared scooters remain popular, but they have also become a symbol of the tension between new mobility services and the management of crowded urban space.
The push for stricter regulation in Zurich has also drawn support from the left, which wants even tougher action on illegally parked scooters. The city’s current plan would already be one of the most restrictive in Switzerland, but some politicians argue that designated parking spots should be expanded across the whole city, not just the centre.
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