Paris recently issued a surprising ruling that will drastically alter the future of electric scooters in the city. Voters in the City of Light overwhelmingly supported a ban on the increasingly popular shared e-scooters that could bring an end to the transportation revolution they represented.
For months, electric scooters have become a ubiquitous sight in Paris’s streets and parks. Although originally hailed as a convenient and eco-friendly way of navigating the narrow Parisian streets, their popularity has brought a range of problems with it. Tourists using the scooters haphazardly and dangerously on sidewalks led to a backlash from Parisians. Additionally, the surge in e-scooters caused a strain on local infrastructure such as sidewalks and bike lanes.
In response to these issues, the Parisian authorities proposed a ban on electric scooter sharing services. The vast majority of residents voted in favor of the ban, citing the nuisance and danger of the devices in the everyday life of Parisians. The ban would theoretically prohibit shared electric scooters from being used within the city’s limits, although private scooters could remain unaffected.
This ruling marks a shocking turnaround for electric scooters, who have seen a rise in popularity all over the world in the past few years. However, the concerns of Paris have been echoed elsewhere as cities grapple with the challenge of regulating the influx of electric scooters.
The ruling poses major questions to the companies who supply shared e-scooters in Paris, such as Bird and Lime. For years they have enjoyed a monopoly on the increasingly popular transportation option, and the ban could cause major disruption of their business models.
Although the ban will undoubtedly be found unwelcome by tourists hoping to take a spin around Paris on an scooter, Parisians themselves could be less disappointed by the decision. With the majority of Parisian voters backing the ban, it seems that the right decision has been made in the City of Light.
