Paris Ends Era of Electric Scooter Rentals
The bustling streets of Paris have bid farewell to the familiar sight of shared electric scooters. According to a report by The Guardian, the city has recently ceased its rental service for electric scooters after a successful run of five years.
In 2018, Paris became the first European city to introduce electric scooter sharing, revolutionizing the way young people and students commuted around the city. However, as the popularity of these scooters grew, so did the concerns surrounding their use. Issues like pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, and scooters being irresponsibly left on the streets became a cause for alarm.
Responding to these challenges, the city of Paris implemented stringent regulations, including limits on the number of operators and speed restrictions. Despite these efforts, controversy persisted, with dissatisfaction among the public reaching an alarming 90%.
On the 31st of last month, Paris marked the end of an era by collecting the last remaining 15,000 electric scooters that had once buzzed through the city’s streets. While some citizens may experience inconvenience due to the suspension of the service, city officials remain confident that the impact will be minimal. With an extensive public transport network and an abundance of cycling paths, alternative options are readily available.
For those who relied on electric scooter rentals, alternative modes of transportation such as walking, taking the bus or subway, or purchasing a scooter are being considered. Additionally, the discontinuation of electric scooters opens up the possibility of increased usage of e-bikes, offered by scooter rental companies Tier, Dot, Lime, and Paris-based bike hire service, Velibe.
Undoubtedly, this move signals a shift in the transportation landscape of Paris. Deputy Mayor David Belliard, the former leader of the Green Party responsible for transport and public spaces, emphasizes that living in a major city without relying on e-scooters is indeed feasible. The city is committed to creating simpler and quieter public spaces for its residents.
Electric scooters parked in the center of Paris. Getty Image Bank
The traditional shared scooter (kickboard) has disappeared in Paris, France.
The British Guardian reported on the 31st of last month (local time) that the city of Paris has stopped renting electric scooters. 5 years after delivery.
Paris, which opened the electric scooter sharing market for the first time as a European city in 2018, ended an era by collecting the last of 15,000 electric scooters that roamed around the city that day, the Guardian said.
Meanwhile, electric scooter rentals have been widely used in Paris, becoming popular with young people under 35 and students.
However, controversy surrounding electric scooters has grown, threatening the safety of drivers and pedestrians, and blocking traffic by being left anywhere on the street.
In response, the city of Paris introduced world-class regulations to limit the number of operators, tracking and limiting the speed of operation, but the debate did not disappear. The percentage reached 90%.
It is also expected that citizens who used the electric scooter rental service will experience inconvenience due to the suspension. However, the city of Paris believes there will be no major impact as there are plenty of public transport options and a wider network of cycle paths.
Those who rent existing electric scooters can increase their use by walking, bus or subway, or buy a scooter outright.
There is also the possibility of increased use of e-bikes, operated by scooter rental companies Tier, Dot and Lime, and Paris-based bike hire service Velibe.
“We know that it is possible to live in a big city without an e-scooter,” said Deputy Mayor David Belliard, former leader of the Green Party in charge of transport and public spaces in Paris. “We are working to make public spaces in Paris simpler and quieter.
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