Parisians have voted to ban rental electric scooters in their city, with almost 90% of votes in favor of the ban. This decision comes as a victory for road safety campaigners but a blow to scooter operators.
Privately owned electric scooters were excluded from the vote.
Despite the benefits of privately owned electric scooters, the decision to ban rental scooters in Paris comes after a rising number of accidents involving e-scooters. Critics argued that rental scooters caused more harm than good, with riders often not wearing helmets and children as young as 12 able to hire them.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo called the referendum, allowing voters to decide on the fate of rental e-scooters in the city. The three main operators – Lime, Dott, and Tier – attempted to sway the vote by offering free rides on voting day and urging people to vote in their favor through social media.
While Parisians have voted to ban rental electric scooters, privately owned electric scooters remain unaffected. These privately owned scooters provide numerous benefits, such as increased safety, accessibility, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
Benefits of Privately Owned Electric Scooters
Privately owned electric scooters offer several advantages over rental electric scooters:
Safety: Owners of private scooters are more likely to use their scooters responsibly, reducing reckless driving and weaving through traffic. They may also be more inclined to wear helmets, increasing safety.
Accessibility: Private scooters are always accessible to their owners, eliminating the need to search for rental scooters or rely on their availability.
Sustainability: Privately owned scooters contribute to reducing the number of abandoned or improperly parked rental scooters that clutter pavements and public spaces.
Cost-effectiveness: Owning an electric scooter can be more economical in the long run, as there are no recurring rental fees.
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The UK remains stuck in a legal grey area when it comes to electric scooters. Despite discussions dating back to 2015, private electric scooters are still illegal on public roads, leaving riders frustrated and facing inconsistent enforcement. While rental scooters operate under trial schemes, progress toward a comprehensive electric scooter law has been slow. This 2024 update explores the current situation, what’s causing delays, and what the future might hold for electric scooter riders in the UK.
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“the Transport Committee publishes the Government’s Response to its report, ‘E-scooters: pavement nuisance or transport innovation?”
A bicycle mounted police officer intercepted Juliens’ electric skateboard, using the front wheel of his bicycle.
A law to permit the use of e-scooters on Irish roads should be passed by the Oireachtas before Christmas.
In 2018 there were 17,500 reported accidents involving cyclists, compared to 4 reported e-scooter collisions.
“My best moment on an e-scooter was down towards the lagoon where I was overtaken by a young girl on a skateboard!”
“A report by the London Cycling Campaign said e-scooters, e-bikes and e-cargo bikes should all be welcomed and could play a key role in a “greener” future for the capital post-lockdown.”
“The magistrate finished by saying that because the vehicle is not supposed to be used on the road and insurance is not possible to obtain that they find no grounds to charge Danny”
“The law was not drafted with personal vehicles in mind, so users of these devices will find it a challenge to comply with the legal requirements for motor vehicles.”
“10 (e-scooters) were given fines and had their scooters seized, a direct result of them either speeding or ignoring red lights and generally acting irresponsibly.”
“The DoT acknowledge that the laws from the 1800s need examination and are providing a barrier to innovation.”
A “Single Justice Procedure Notice” was received and the rider attended court. The action was dismissed in court.
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