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Uber withdraws Jump electric bikes from four Brussels communes

20:41 04/09/2019

Uber's electric bike-sharing scheme has pulled out of four Brussels municipalities, after just three months, because of excessive vandalism and violence.

Jump, which launched in April, had added Anderlecht, Molenbeek, Koekelberg and Laeken to its coverage area in June.

In a letter to the four affected municipal councils, Uber said it had decided to withdraw because it could not "guarantee the safety" of its team and "the protection" of the bicycles.

According to Uber, there were four times as many cases of vandalism recorded in these areas than elsewhere in Brussels - mostly broken locks. About 30 bikes have disappeared.

There were also several reported assaults against Uber maintenance workers, whose job is to repair broken bikes and ensure they remain charged.

Jump users who continue to leave their bikes in the four municipalities west of the canal face a fine of €35.

Written by The Bulletin