Paris threatens electric scooter rental firms with ban for overpopulating 15,000 scooters

Paris’ electric scooter companies have been threatened with a complete ban unless they abide by a code of good conduct.

In recent years, Paris has seen an explosion in the number of companies offering short-term hire of electric scooters, known as trottinettes. Lime, Jump, Wind, Tier and Bird are just some of the firms offering the dockless e-scooters, which users can rent for as long as they want via an app, and leave anywhere.

The vehicles, which can reach top speeds of 25 mph, are supposed to be ridden on the road, but are frequently seen being driven on the pavement. The vehicles are also often dumped in inconvenient places, blocking paths and parking spaces and even being thrown into rivers and canals.

There are currently around 15,000 scooters on the streets of Paris, but if the present growth rate continues their number will soon reach 30,000 – which the Paris mayor’s office said is simply too many.

Les opérateurs de trottinettes en flotte libre signent avec la Ville de @Paris une charte de bonne conduite. Le désordre généralisé doit cesser et des règles doivent être respectées. Les trottinettes ne sont pas tolérées sur les trottoirs. pic.twitter.com/zbVBX33pY0

— Christophe Najdovski (@C_Najdovski) May 13, 2019