The Malfunctioning of the Paris Vote on Electric Scooters: An Examination of the Mishaps
In a city-centric clash, e-scooters meet their match
Micromobility has hit a speedbump. In the City of Lights, Paris, a mixture of poor planning and careless users led to a public uproar, resulting in a ban on e-scooters. Yet, Dagmara Wrzesińska, a mobility and MaaS (Mobility as a Service) expert, provides insights on how cities can navigate the maze of micromobility, ensuring its smooth integration into everyday journeys.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Paris welcomed e-scooter rental services due to social distancing policies. Young adults up to the age of 35 dominated the scene, with 71% of riders. However, the wheels came off in April 2023, when 90% of voters in a referendum shouted "out with the scooters!" Privately-owned e-scooters can still be used, but public rentals have been banned since September 1st, 2023.
Micromobility: More Than Just a Fun Ride
The popular vote may seem like a victory for safe streets, but the waves generated by e-scooters hidden beneath the surface can't be ignored. One service provider reported a surge in e-scooter usage for essential trips such as grocery shopping and hospital visits during the pandemic. Contrary to some claims, it's clear that e-scooters are not just a passing fad.
During its heyday, Paris boasted 15,000 public e-scooters, clocked at 400,000 riders a month. However, rider behavior and the associated issues became a major cause for concern. The city witnessed scooters obstructing sidewalks, riders riding drunk, recklessly, or too fast, and even dumping them in rivers.
The Class Struggle in the Urban Jungle
Much of this chaos can be attributed to gaps in infrastructure. As Dagmara points out, if parking zones are not densely located or are far apart, it eliminates the advantage of the service's flexibility. Without dedicated lanes, riders are left with few choices – ride on the road or ride on the pavement.
Similar problems arise due to a lack of diversity in city planning. Historically, it has been non-disabled, full-time employed men who design our cities, often with cars in mind. "If you never had to navigate city streets with a baby stroller or a wheelchair, you'll never appreciate the struggle," notes Dagmara. It's no wonder that the presence of micromobility options leads many to perceive an invasion of their personal space.
Accidents: As Common as the Common Cold?
Despite the challenges, e-scooters are surprisingly safe. In 2022, the rate of riders requiring medical treatment stood at just 4.1 per million kilometers, 20 times lower than for mopeds. The low injury rate did little to spare e-scooters from the ballot box vote.
When a Landslide Is Not a Landslide
The 90% victory came from a turnout of less than 8%. Most people didn't even bother to cast a vote. Dagmara appreciates the democratic exchange between citizens and the city but criticizes how the Paris referendum was organized, stating that it likely contributed to the low turnout. Among the issues raised were pre-registration requirements, the absence of digital or proxy votes, and limited accessibility due to a single polling station per district.
City after city is grappling with the pace of micromobility growth. The EU hovers in the balance, unsure how to respond to the new trends. While some countries ban e-scooters from public spaces altogether, others allow them only on pavements.
Capitalizing on the Storm: Cities Stepping up Their Game
Regulations, however strict, can't kill the start-up spirit. In Madrid, strict rules have been implemented to safeguard both service operators and the city. Service providers are only allowed to supply 2,000 e-scooters each (with potential increases based on demand), and there are limits to where scooters can be ridden and parked. Users will continue to incur charges until the device is properly parked, and fines can be imposed for improper use. Safety measures are in place, too; e-scooters cannot be taken on public transport.
Italian cities will soon require citizens to carry insurance, and Vienna treats e-scooters the same as mopeds, with riders required to wear helmets and stay off footpaths. These measures have proven to reduce the risk of injuries by nearly half, as verified by independent research. In Brussels, e-scooters have been banned from pathways for the sake of elderly and partially sighted pedestrians.
Yet operators complain that the more cities impose restrictions, the more their business models are put at risk, making them less sustainable.
Crafting a Cohesive Urban Transport Network
The relationship between e-scooters and cities is still under construction. To strike the "gold compromise" – a system that works for the public, operators, and cities alike – requires three components:
- service providers and authorities engaging in open dialogue and being willing to cooperate.
- a change in public perception of micromobility to bring it in line with more traditional transport.
- experts to support stakeholders to adapt.
This calls for political courage and bold leadership, as these discussions are not easy to tackle.
Bringing Order to the Chaos: MaaS to the Rescue
Enter MaaS (Mobility as a Service). By offering a fully integrated, diverse, coordinated, and optimized transport network with a single easy-to-use interface, MaaS can help cities navigate the evolving world of micromobility. There's no need to waste time juggling multiple apps and ticket systems – just one account, one goal: effortless, seamless mobility.
A balanced approach is key: neither banning nor embracing e-scooters blindly but finding a middle ground that works for everyone. As Dagmara wisely says, "We cannot drive society in the direction that everyone is obliged to follow one certain paradigm of how they should be moving."
The Future: Putting Pedestrians First
Paris may have made a misstep, but the story doesn't end here. Cities will find their rhythm as they continue to evolve their micromobility policies, ensuring the safety and satisfaction of their citizens. The integration of micromobility services will be a dance, a delicate balance between cars, pedestrains, e-scooters, and cyclists. The tune changes, but one thing remains the same: the need for cooperation and an open dialogue between cities and their citizens, with Dagmara, our MaaS mastermind, guiding the way.
- In the realm of politics and urban planning, discussions over micromobility's role in transportation have extended to the finance industry, as cities grapple with how to regulate and capitalize on this emerging sector.
- The technology sector has also been instrumental in this discussion, with MaaS (Mobility as a Service) solutions proposed as a means to integrate micromobility into a cohesive urban transport network, addressing concerns around safety, convenience, and sustainability.
- Furthermore, the impact of micromobility on various sectors, such as transportation and finance, has spilled over into the general news arena, as city after city navigates the challenges and opportunities presented by e-scooters and similar technologies.
