Athens is taking decisive steps to regulate the use of small electric vehicles, such as e-scooters, aiming to restore order to the city’s increasingly congested streets and sidewalks. Over the past five years, the capital—like many major cities in Greece—has seen scooters abandoned haphazardly, blocking pedestrian paths and creating safety hazards.
The problem is far from unique to Greece. Across Europe, cities have faced similar challenges. Paris, under Mayor Anne Hidalgo, became the first European capital to ban shared rental e-scooters in Sept. 2023 following a public referendum, while still allowing privately owned ones.
Prompted by growing complaints, particularly from residents in the city center, the Athens Municipality has drafted a new regulation currently open for public consultation. The proposal is expected to go before the City Council on Nov. 20 and, if approved, will come into effect early next year.
According to Deputy Mayor for Urban Revitalization and Resilience, Maro Evangelidou, the plan includes restricting e-scooter circulation and parking on several busy streets and pedestrian zones. She emphasized that the city seeks a balanced approach—neither an outright ban nor unrestricted use—acknowledging that Athens lacks both the extensive cycling networks and the institutional autonomy enjoyed by many other European cities.
Municipal data estimate that over 4,000 e-scooters currently operate in Athens. The new framework designates 1,574 parking spots across 124 specific zones. Companies will be allowed to rent private areas for parking, while the Municipal Police will oversee compliance and impose fines on operators or users violating the rules.
The regulation also introduces complete bans on riding and parking in culturally and historically sensitive zones, including the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Lycabettus Hill, the Panathenaic Stadium, and major parks such as the National Garden, Goudi Park, and Pedion tou Areos.
Through these measures, the Athens Municipality aims to promote safer, cleaner, and more orderly micromobility—without sacrificing the convenience that has made e-scooters so popular in urban life.
