Italy Fines Bird, Dott, Lime $3.1M for Unfair E-Scooter Practices in Rome
Italian Competition Authority Penalizes E-Scooter Operators for Unfair Practices
Background of the Fines
ROME, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Italy's competition authority has fined e-scooter and e-bike operators Bird, Dott and Lime a total of almost €2.7 million ($3.1 million) for unfair commercial practices, it said in a statement on Thursday.
Issues with Free Ride Packages for Public Transport Pass Holders
• The regulator said the three companies had made it unduly difficult for holders of annual public transport passes in Rome to access free ride packages to which they were entitled.
Breakdown of Fines
• Uber-backed Lime was fined €1.4 million, Dott €525,000 and Bird €750,000.
Company Responses
• "We will carefully review the reasoning underpinning this outcome and reserve all of our legal rights, including the right to appeal," Lime said in a statement.
• "Lime remains committed to working constructively with public authorities and transport partners to further strengthen the integration between shared mobility and public transit," it added.
• Bird and Dott did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Regulator's Findings on Operational Practices
• The three micromobility operators had inadequate systems to manage user requests, causing long delays in activating the passes and reducing the time available to use them, the regulator said.
• It also sanctioned Bird for a separate alleged unfair practice of arbitrarily deactivating user accounts without prior warning.
Context of the Free Ride Benefit
• The free ride benefit for annual pass holders was part of the terms under which the firms won the 2023-2026 service contract for the city of Rome.
Additional Information
($1 = 0.8665 euros)
(Reporting by Sara Rossi, editing by Alvise Armellini)
