Milan, 27 November. (LaPresse) – The Italian Competition and Market Authority has announced that it has launched an investigation into Bird Rides Italy S.r.l., EmTransit S.r.l. and Lime Technology S.r.l. to ascertain possible unfair commercial practices relating to electric micro-mobility sharing services in the municipality of Rome. The three operators, which are the only ones authorised to provide micro-mobility services (e-bikes and electric scooters) in the municipal area for the period 2023-2026, are alleged to have hindered – according to a statement from the Antitrust Authority , the use of free travel packages reserved for citizens with an annual Metrebus pass (ticket for local public transport in Rome), significantly lengthening the time required to activate the free package (known as a Pass). In particular, reports received by the Authority revealed that Metrebus annual pass holders who use their own account or create one specifically to take advantage of the free travel package once they have requested activation of the Pass, have to wait a long time before they can use it, the Antitrust Authority points out, with consumers who have sent reminders and complaints to the companies' customer service departments receiving vague replies inviting them to wait for the paperwork to be processed. On Tuesday 25 November, officials from the Authority, with the assistance of the Special Antitrust Unit of the Guardia di Finanza, carried out inspections at the headquarters of the three companies.