MICROMOBILITY
PARIS VOTES TO BAN RENTAL E-SCOOTERS: A WAKE UP CALL FOR MICROMOBILITY?
Rebecca Morley looks at the impact of the French capital’s recent referendum result and what lessons can be learnt when it comes to safety
afety is one of the biggest talking points when it comes to the ongoing discussions around e-scooters, in the UK and around the world. But while these vehicles are becoming more and more common in many towns and cities, a landmark referendum in Paris earlier this year saw residents vote to ban rental e-scooters in the French capital, a result that many will see as a step backwards for micromobility.
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The referendum was called partly in response to a rising number of people being injured and killed, as three people died and 459 were injured in e-scooter accidents in Paris last year. Almost 90% of votes cast on Sunday, April 2 favoured a ban of shared e-scooter schemes, albeit with a low turnout (around 8% of registered voters), and while the vote was non- binding, city authorities promised they would follow the will of its residents.
An evolving space
So what does this result mean for micromobility - is it a step backwards? Speaking to BikeBiz, British e-scooter brand
40 | June 2023
Pure Electric said it’s important to consider the broader context of the decision and its implications. “Rental or private, the use of e-scooters is still in its infancy and is a dynamic space from a regulatory perspective. This is a sign of the evolution of e-scooter use. A maturity if you like,” the company said. “The Paris referendum was driven in-part by concerns over congestion on sidewalks and in city parks caused by rental e-scooters. Additionally, micromobility is a rapidly evolving space and this will lead to many more exciting opportunities for innovation, sustainability and progress in how we navigate the streets.” Oscar Morgan, CEO of mobility startup Bo - winner of
Newcomer of the Year at the BikeBiz Awards 2022 - said the result is not positive, but in some ways it is perhaps a ‘necessary wake up call for the sector’. “This can be seen as the outcome when you force your product upon people without full consideration for the side effects.” Morgan continued: “As a result, the same people who raise no objection to their air, earth and water being relentlessly
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