Electric Scooters in Paris: Balancing Sustainable Mobility and Safety in the Face of a Potential Ban

Paris, also known as the City of Lights, has been at the forefront of shared micromobility services, having introduced electric scooters in 2018. The impact of these electric shared scooters on the city has been varied, including reducing the need for private car use and promoting sustainable mobility. E-scooters have been shown to be a cost-effective and convenient mode of transportation, especially for short trips within the city (UC Berkeley, 2021).

One study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley found that e-scooters could serve as a viable alternative to cars and taxis for short trips. The study found that 49% of e-scooter riders in Paris would have otherwise used a car or taxi, indicating that e-scooters could help reduce car trips (UC Berkeley, 2021).

Furthermore, e-scooters have the potential to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion, making Paris a cleaner and more livable city. According to a study by the Institut d’Aménagement et d’Urbanisme de la Région Île-de-France (IAU), the use of e-scooters in Paris has led to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, further indicating their potential as a sustainable mode of transportation (IAU, 2021).

Shared electric scooters have also been shown to bridge the last-mile gap in public transportation, providing a viable option for short trips that would otherwise require a taxi or public transportation. A report by the European Cyclists’ Federation found that shared electric scooters have the potential to improve urban mobility by complementing existing public transportation systems (ECF, 2021).