Paris enforces e-scooter ban on sidewalks, citing accident surge

Starting in September, France will prohibit electric scooters from sidewalks, following growing frustration from residents about the vehicles blocking public spaces and contributing to a rise in accidents.

Since their introduction just a year ago, Paris and other cities have seen thousands of e-scooters, with several companies offering scooter-sharing programs across the capital.

However, the widespread use of these scooters has caused tensions with locals, and France's transport minister acknowledged the role they’ve played in rising accident numbers.

“The expansion of these scooters was incredibly fast and somewhat chaotic. We didn’t anticipate it, and now it’s become a free-for-all,” Elisabeth Borne told Le Parisien. “Indeed, we’re witnessing more accidents and a growing unease on our sidewalks.”

“Our primary goal is to ensure that pedestrians no longer feel threatened by the risk of being run over,” she explained, noting that operators themselves were advocating for clearer 'best practice' guidelines and greater clarity on how the vehicles should be used.

Lime, a US-based start-up managing an e-scooter network in multiple cities and offering rentals via an app, has aggressively expanded into the European market over the past year, with Paris being one of its major hubs. Other companies, such as Tier, Bird, and Uber's Jump, have since followed suit.

However, concerns over the safety of these scooters have arisen, and a recent highly anticipated US study revealed particularly high accident rates among first-time riders.

According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Austin Public Health in Texas, one-third of injured riders sustained their injuries on their very first trip. Approximately 63% of the injured riders had used e-scooters no more than nine times prior to their accident. The researchers suggested that enhanced training might be necessary for e-scooter users.