Thousands of Electric Scooters Disappear from Paris Streets Following Ban
Around 15,000 electric scooters have vanished from the streets of Paris as August came to an end, according to the AFP news agency. This comes after a majority of the city’s residents voted against the continued rental of electric scooters in a referendum held in April.
The ban has affected nearly 400,000 users per month, forcing them to find alternative modes of transportation within the bustling city. However, reports suggest that public transport and cars are not appealing to many of the users.
“I use it (the electric scooter) every day. It means that I don’t have to take the car when petrol is expensive. But now that it is banned, it becomes more complicated,” expressed a frustrated skater named Ruben, who preferred to remain anonymous, during an interview with radio station Europe 1. He added, “Either I return to the car, which is not great for the environment, or I buy my own electric scooter.”
Criticism of e-scooters in Paris has been extensive since the inception of rental services in 2018. One common argument is the perceived “anarchy” on the streets, with users allegedly driving too fast and disregarding traffic laws.
The frustration arising from this issue has been exacerbated by accidents, some of which have had fatal consequences. Last year, three people lost their lives, and over 450 were injured in accidents involving e-scooters. In July of this year, the city recorded a record high of ten e-kick cyclist-related deaths, as reported by local authorities.
Paris, like Stockholm, has implemented several measures over the years to address these issues. The number of rental companies has been reduced to three, and the number of vehicles limited to 15,000. Additionally, over 2,000 bicycle parking spaces have been constructed to discourage illegal dumping on pavements. Speed limits have also been reduced to 10 kilometers per hour in 700 designated areas.
Despite these efforts, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who made the decision to hold the referendum in April, believes they have not been successful. In the referendum, 90 percent of voters were against the use of electric scooters.
With the electric scooter rental business seemingly at an impasse in Paris, it remains to be seen how both users and the city will adapt to the new circumstances.