Paris votes to ban e-scooter rentals

Paris residents have dealt a blow to e-scooter rental companies Lime, Tier and Dott, voting in an 89 percent landslide to ban “trotinettes” from streets amid low voter turnout, France 24 has reported. The French capital will likely become the second European city after Barcelona to prohibit the devices, as mayor Anne Hidalgo has promised to respect the referendum. Any ban won’t affect e-bikes or privately-owned scooters.

Following a messylaunch in 2018, Paris introduced strict rules and reduced the number of rental companies from around 20 to just three. A spate of accidents ensued including a 2021 fatality, prodding the city to introduce new rules like a 10 km/h (6 MPH) speed limit in designated zones and fines for for not using dedicated parking. However, residents continued to complain about dangerous operation and devices strewn on city sidewalks. 

Only eight percent of city dwellers voted, and that group appeared to skew away from younger people more likely to use the devices. “In the double queue here, a majority of 50+ and parents with toddlers,” tweeted journalist Agnes Poirier. “Incapable of regulating their use, the City of Paris is …read more