Lisbon cracks down on ride-hailing with new pickup zones and EV rules

Lisbon has unveiled a new plan to regulate ride-hailing services across the city. The scheme introduces designated pickup areas and strict rules to reduce traffic disruptions and speed up the shift to electric vehicles. The city will create 'red zones' where passengers cannot start or end trips with services like Uber or Bolt. These restricted areas include key locations such as Marquês de Pombal Square, Avenida da Liberdade, and Avenida Padre Cruz. Other affected spots are Príncipe Real, Rua do Ouro, Rua de Belém, and sections of Avenida da República.

To manage demand, 'blue zones' will act as official pickup points, similar to taxi stands. These areas will first operate as a pilot before a full rollout. The move aims to cut congestion caused by ride-hailing vehicles stopping in bus lanes, which has slowed down Carris services. The plan also pushes for a greener fleet. By the end of 2023, 60% of Lisbon's 10,000 ride-hailing cars must be electric. This target will rise by 10 percentage points each year until the entire fleet goes electric by 2030.

The changes will reshape how ride-hailing works in Lisbon. Blue zones will streamline pickups, while red zones will limit stops in busy areas. Meanwhile, the shift to electric vehicles will reduce emissions from the city's growing fleet of ride-hailing cars.