Electric scooter usage declines for first time in Finland

The use of rented electric scooters in Finland declined last year for the first time since their introduction to the market, according to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency. In 2023, there were approximately 16.2 million rides on electric scooters, representing a four percent decrease compared to the previous year. The drop in usage was particularly notable in major cities like Helsinki and Tampere. Conversely, in smaller communities where electric scooters were introduced later, their popularity continued to rise.

Electric scooters entered the Finnish market in 2019, and their usage surged nearly sevenfold by 2022. However, as the popularity of electric scooters skyrocketed, the appeal of city bikes began to wane. Interestingly, in the past year, rides on city bikes saw a resurgence, indicating a potential shift in urban mobility preferences.