Lisbon cracks down on ride-hailing with red zones and electric car push

Lisbon is introducing new rules for ride-hailing services to ease traffic and speed up public transport. The city will create red zones where passengers cannot start or finish trips. Popular tourist spots like Príncipe Real and Marquês de Pombal Square will be among the first affected areas.

The changes come as part of a wider effort to reduce congestion caused by ride-hailing vehicles in bus lanes. Around 10,000 such cars currently operate in the city, often slowing down Carris buses. To address this, blue zones—similar to taxi ranks—will be set up for passenger pickups and drop-offs.

The blue zones will launch as a pilot programme before full implementation. Meanwhile, the city is pushing for a greener fleet. By the end of 2023, 60% of ride-hailing vehicles in Lisbon are expected to be electric. The goal is to have all such cars fully electric by 2030, with the transition beginning this year.

The new measures will restrict ride-hailing pickups in busy areas while encouraging electric vehicle use. Blue zones will help manage traffic flow, particularly in tourist-heavy locations. The city plans to monitor the pilot before expanding the system further.