In a surprise move, Paris sparked controversy by voting to outlaw shared electric scooters in the city last year. While privately owned electric scooters remained permitted, thousands of shared electric scooters, commonly used by locals and tourists alike, were forced to leave town, yielding unforeseen consequences.
A proposal to ban shared electrical scooters gained traction at the end of last year as a result of persistent complaints from a small group of residents, who expressed strong objections to the vehicles’ increasing presence throughout the city. Last year, the long-awaited referendum finally went to the polls. Ultimately, a strong majority of voters endorsed the proposed ban, despite an unprecedentedly low voter turnout resulting in just 7% of registered Parisians casting ballots to ensure its passage.
Shared electric scooters have typically been viewed as an alternative mode of transportation for commuters seeking to avoid driving cars, while also offering tourists the option to forego traditional vehicle rentals in favor of smaller-scale, shared e-scooter usage. As a direct consequence of the scooters’ shared ownership, they have proven to be an effective and efficient on-demand transportation solution for both teams.
In its heyday, a staggering 15,000 electric scooters enabled residents and visitors to effortlessly traverse the nation’s capital.
While some anticipated a backlash against shared electric scooters following a potential ban, a recent study surprisingly found that the outcome might actually boost dockless bike-sharing instead.
A striking trend has become apparent in analyzing the September 2022 and October 2022 ridership figures for dockless bikes and scooters, suggesting a compelling narrative. The scope of available rides has remained relatively unchanged over the past year, despite the departure of shared electric scooter companies. Despite this, the proliferation of dockless bike-sharing services surged, more than doubling within a single year.
In September 2022, around 750,000 people made use of dockless bike journeys, a figure that more than doubled to approximately 2 million trips in the same month of 2023. In October 2022, a comparable surge in ridership was observed.
Despite a ban on shared electric scooters in Paris, residents continue to seek out and utilize alternative shared mobility devices. Instead, they appear to have transitioned from shared scooter programs to shared bike initiatives.
Less than 12 months following the implementation of the ban on shared electrical scooters, a palpable shift towards alternative forms of shared mobility has become evident throughout the city.
Shared electric scooters may have had their moment, but shared micromobility seems poised for long-term success.
The fate of dockless bicycles in Paris hangs in the balance, as the city’s residents ponder a stern response to the surge in popularity of these innovative transportation devices.
