The mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes, said this Tuesday (14) that company 99 does not have authorization to provide passenger transport services on motorcycles in the capital of São Paulo. 99 reported this morning that it began offering the service, initially outside the expanded center of São Paulo. According to the company, the first trip took place around 9 am.
“We have 1 million and 300 thousand motorcycles in the city. We had an increase in the number of traffic deaths, driven by motorcycle accidents. So, it is not possible for a company to come to the city of São Paulo and want, without any authorization, to think that it will do what it wants here. She won’t do it,” said the mayor.
He informed that he will go to court against the company and ordered the inspection of all motorcycles that are providing the service. “All motorcycles that are registered to perform this type of service in the city will be stopped and inspected,” said Ricardo Nunes.
Carnage
The mayor stated that the passenger transport service on motorcycles in the capital of São Paulo could cause “carnage” and criticized 99, saying that the company is irresponsible and seeks only profit.
“We will not allow this company to come here and cause carnage. They are killers. These companies are killer and irresponsible companies. They are not going to do what they intend to do in the city of São Paulo, just looking for profit”, he emphasized. “They already make so much money, isn’t that enough? Do you want to take people’s lives? They already take a lot of money out of the city. Not lives,” added Nunes.
According to the city hall, the operation of the service does not comply with the decree signed by Nunes in January 2023, which suspends this type of transport. According to the municipal administration, in 2023, from January to July, 240 deaths of motorcyclists were recorded in the capital of São Paulo. In 2024, in the same period, there were 329 deaths, an increase of 37%.
Clandestine service
The São Paulo Municipal Road Use Committee has already notified, this Tuesday, 99. In the document, “the immediate suspension/interruption of any activity related to the clandestine service of using motorcyclists for paid individual transport of passengers through apps in this city.”
Unconstitutional decree
In a note, 99 says that the decree cited by the mayor is unconstitutional and that the private individual passenger transport service mediated by applications is permitted throughout Brazil, both for cars and motorcycles, in accordance with the National Urban Mobility Policy .
“Federal legislation establishes that city halls can regulate and supervise the activity with specific requirements, but they do not have the power to prohibit it. There are already 20 court decisions confirming this understanding of the legality of the category. The Federal Supreme Court (STF) decided in 2019 that prohibition was impossible, as it was a legitimate activity, carried out on a free initiative basis and authorized by the Constitution.”
99 also highlighted that its model of transporting passengers on motorcycles is safe. “In 2024, only 0.0003% of races had a traffic accident. This was possible thanks to 50 safety features, including: speed alert, which issues warnings in cases of excess speed; governance against dangerous driving in traffic, which promotes awareness and, if necessary, also stops reckless motorcyclists; preventive driving courses and guidance; in addition to data checking, race monitoring; between others”.
The company also highlights its commitment to improving its tools and promoting safe travel. “All races carried out through the App are protected by insurance and, in the event of accidents, 99 follows a strict service protocol, which includes financial support”, says the text.
