Paris reviews banning rental e-scooters after pedestrian death

Paris may ban the use of rental e-scooters, the city’s Deputy Mayor for Transport David Belliard has said.

Mr Belliard has asked to meet with service providers Lime, Dott and Tier to discuss their contracts, which are currently in place until October 2022.

He has said they may be cancelled if progress is not made on introducing speed limits and parking rules.

Mr Belliard said: “Either there must be a significant improvement in the current situation and e-scooters find their place in the public space without causing extra danger, especially for pedestrians, or we envisage removing them completely.”

Three e-scooter deaths in June

This comes after a 32-year-old woman died after being hit by an e-scooter in a pedestrianised area near the Seine.

The woman was transported to hospital after the accident but died from her injuries on June 16. The police have arrested two women in connection with the incident.

In Jura, Grand Est, a 12-year-old child also died while riding an e-scooter on June 7. The boy was unable to stop the scooter he was riding with his twin brother before reaching a crossing.

Also in Jura, a 60-year-old man died on June 28 after being found injured on the side of the road by a passing cyclist. The man had been riding an e-scooter without a helmet.

In October 2019, the government passed a law limiting e-scooters and other motorised solo transport to maximum speeds of 25kmph. They are only allowed to have one person on board and should be used in cycle lanes.

In Paris, they are restricted to a 20kmph speed limit falling to 10kmph in some areas. They cannot be parked on pavements.

Lime, Dott and Tier have two-year contracts allowing them to make 5,000 vehicles each available in the capital.

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