Paris has become the first major European city to ban rental e-scooters, some five years after being among the first to adopt them.
Back in April, 90% of the French public voted in favour of a ban on e-scooters, following a number of injuries and three fatalities sustained as a result of using the vehicles.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said: “Once again Paris innovates. I also want to salute all the municipal agents who ensured the smooth running of operations at the 203 polling stations, as well as the members of the control commission.”
Initially, the introduction of e-scooters in Paris came with controversy: from politicians warning of safety concerns and angst to pedestrians, to questions about how much of a positive environmental impact e-scooters make.
In 2020, in response to these concerns, Paris introduced regulations limiting the number of e-scooter operators, as wells as tracking and limiting speeds.
E-scooter users in Paris are now expected to walk, cycle or turn to public transport to move around the French capital.
Analysts will monitor e-bike rentals to see if they increase in the absence of e-scooters. Paris’ Vélib bike-rental scheme has seen the biggest rise in recent years.
David Belliard, the Green deputy mayor in charge of transport and public spaces, added: “We know that it’s possible to live in a big city without an electric scooter rental scheme. This is about our larger work to simplify, calm down and de-clutter public spaces in Paris.”
The French capital is not alone in its removal of e-scooters. Since June 2023, e-scooters have been banned on many trains and on platforms in the UK.
Innovations and achievements in urban transportation will be highlighted and celebrated at the second annual CiTTi Awards on 21 November 2023 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector – and to book your table today!
