Parisians Will Vote April 2 On Proposed E-Scooter Ban

After becoming one of the first major cities to permit electric scooter sharing service, Paris will hold a vote on Sunday asking whether this form of micromobility transportation should be prohibited.

The April 2 vote was announced earlier this year by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, and followed a lengthy review of the impact e-scooters have had on the city. Currently, three companies are allowed to operate scooter sharing services in Paris: Lime, Tier and Dott.

To boost their profile, the companies are offering free rides to people use the code “JEVOTE” (I vote) in their applications. This is part of a larger campaign being waged by these companies that has included recruiting social media influencers to boost the reputation of these services.

Although Paris has become one of the largest markets for e-scooter sharing, many residents have complained about the nuissance of the vehicles being heaped in piles on random corners, or the recklessness of drivers and the danger they pose.

The three companies have welcome additional regulation and safety measures, but it still wasn’t enough for the city to renew the program in the face of the backlash. It’s a particular challenge for Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who has been removing cars from the city center and encouraging alternative, cleaner modes of transportation a priority for her administration.

Indeed, Hidalgo recently confirmed that she will put in place even tighter restriction on cars in the city center at the start of 2024, according to Le Monde. The plan is part of broader preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The result of the e-scooter vote is expected to be announced Sunday night.