Paris is saying a bittersweet goodbye to the electric scooters that were once a common sight in the City of Light. In a major change of policy, Paris has voted to ban companies from renting out electric scooters within the city limits.
In the last few years, electric scooters had become a popular mode of transport in Paris, with several companies offering their services in the city. People could rent scooters conveniently using their smartphones and they quickly became an attractive option against public transport, providing a cheap, easy and green way of getting around.
However, due to the overwhelming popularity of electric scooters, the streets of Paris soon became congested with people cruising around on the vehicles. There was also an increase in reported accidents involving scooters; although they looked fun, they also posed a public safety hazard if not used properly.
In response to these safety concerns, the city council of Paris has voted to ban all electric scooter rental companies within the city. The ban will come into effect in early 2021, affecting all the major companies including Bird and Lime.
The city will work with the major scooter companies to offer alternative options for their customers, such as traditional bike rentals or car-sharing. Paris is also expanding its public transportation networks in an effort to provide more sustainable transport options for its citizens.
The decision to ban electric scooters in Paris has been met with a mixture of sadness and acceptance. Although the scooters offered an enjoyable way of getting around, there were also legitimate safety concerns that needed to be addressed.
At the same time, Paris is committed to expanding its public transportation networks and introducing alternative sustainable transport options, so the decision to ban scooters makes sense in the bigger picture. Parisians can still enjoy the convenience and fun of cruising around on scooters, but at the same time they will remain safe and secure while navigating the streets of the City of Light.
