It is a retreat in installments: in Paris, the rental of e-scooters ends this Thursday after the three providers had already reduced the stock of 15,000 scooters in recent weeks. The scooters were widely used by tourists and residents. However, the scooters became a controversial subject as they often blocked sidewalks and compromised road safety.
The French capital therefore organized a citizen survey in the spring, 89 percent of those involved spoke out against the scooters. The fact that only 7.46 percent of the 1.3 million eligible voters took part in the vote was no obstacle for the city. Despite this, Paris regarded the outcome of the citizen inquiry as binding. There was criticism that the city did not organize an online survey in which more young people who use the scooter more often took part. For the providers of e-scooters, the end in Paris is a heavy blow. E-scooters have existed in Paris since 2018.
To avert the impending ban, the scooter rental companies tightened the rules in Paris last December. Users were required to scan their ID upon registration so that only adults could use the scooters and hooligans could be more easily identified and banned from renting. In addition, the scooters were given license plates to make it easier to detect traffic violations.
The 15,000 Paris scooters will not be scrapped under any circumstances. Instead, the distributors move them to other cities, such as Lille, Copenhagen, London or Berlin – and also simply to the suburbs of Paris, where scooters are also rented. In the French capital, however, the providers are not completely throwing in the towel; they want to expand the rental of electric bicycles in the future.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
