3 April: Electric scooters will no longer be available for rent in Paris from September 1, according to the city’s mayor Anne Hidalgo. She announced the decision after a public vote that showed 89 per cent of the participants were in favour of banning the e-scooters.
The vote was part of a rare “public consultation” that attracted long lines of voters at polling stations across the city. However, only 7.46pc of registered voters took part in the referendum, raising questions about its legitimacy.
Hidalgo said she would respect the outcome of the vote and implement the ban as soon as possible.
“From September 1, there will be no more electric scooters for rent in Paris,” she told reporters on Sunday night.
The e-scooter operators, who have been operating in Paris since 2018, expressed their disappointment and hope for a compromise with the mayor.
A spokesperson for Lime, one of the three licensed operators in Paris, said they were hopeful that they could continue to work with Hidalgo to adopt sensible regulations instead of a ban on e-scooters, and avoid a step backward for Paris.
A spokesman for Dott, another operator, said the vote was “heavily impacted by very restrictive voting methods” that led to a very low turnout and a bias towards older age groups.
The French Transport Minister Clement Beaune, who is seen as a potential rival to Hidalgo in the 2026 mayoral election, called the vote “a massive democratic flop” on BFM television.
Electric scooters have been a source of controversy in Paris and other cities around the world, as they are often seen as a nuisance and a safety hazard by pedestrians and drivers. Paris had tried to regulate them by limiting their speed to 20 km/hour and imposing designated parking areas, but these measures did not seem to satisfy the public.
The current contracts between the city and the operators are due to expire in September.
The e-scooter operators, who have been offering their services in Paris since 2018, were unhappy and hopeful for a compromise with the mayor.
A spokesperson for Lime, one of the three authorised operators in Paris, said they were hopeful that they could continue to work with Hidalgo to adopt reasonable regulations instead of a ban on e-scooters, and avoid a setback for Paris.
A spokesman for Dott, another operator, said the vote was “heavily impacted by very restrictive voting methods” that led to a very low turnout and a preference towards older age groups.
The French Transport Minister Clement Beaune, who is seen as a possible challenger to Hidalgo in the 2026 mayoral election, called the vote “a massive democratic flop” on BFM television.
Electric scooters have been a source of conflict in Paris and other cities around the world, as they are often seen as a nuisance and a danger by pedestrians and drivers. Paris had tried to regulate them by limiting their speed to 20 km/hour and imposing designated parking areas, but these measures did not seem to please the public.
The current contracts between the city and the operators are due to end in September.