In a landmark referendum held two months ago – 2 April – Parisians voted “overwhelmingly” to ban shared app-based e-scooters from the city’s streets. The vote, which was non-binding, was supported by 89% of voters. However, those voters were part of a turnout of around just 7.5%.
Why ban electric scooters in Paris ?
The decision to ban e-scooters comes after a number of high-profile accidents involving the vehicles. In 2022, three people were killed and 459 were injured in e-scooter accidents in Paris.
Proponents of the ban argued that e-scooters are a danger to both riders and pedestrians. They pointed to the fact that e-scooters can travel at speeds of up to 20 mph, making them difficult to control, especially in crowded areas. They also argued that e-scooters are often ridden by people who are not wearing helmets, which increases the risk of serious injury in the event of an accident.
Opponents of the ban argued that e-scooters are a convenient and environmentally friendly way to get around the city. They also argued that the ban would disproportionately impact young people, who are the most likely to use e-scooters.
This site is sympathetic to that view. ducation and proper enforcement should have prevailed.
Anyway, despite that opposition, the ban was ultimately approved by the majority of those who turned out to vote. The ban will go into effect on 1 September but providers will inevitably start to wind down their services before then.
In the wake of the vote, there has been some debate about how the ban will be enforced. The city of Paris has said that it will deploy more police officers to monitor e-scooter usage and that it will issue fines to those who are caught riding e-scooters after the ban goes into effect.
It remains to be seen how effective the ban will be in reducing the number of e-scooter accidents in Paris. However, the vote is a clear indication that the city is serious about addressing the safety concerns that have been raised about these vehicles.
