First city in the world votes to BAN hated e-scooters by 90% amid calls for them to be axed from Britain’s streets
PARIS tonight became the first city in the world to ban self-hire e-scooters as Britain closely watches on amid growing hatred of the machines.
The vehicles were rejected from the French capital's streets with a 90 per cent majority, which draws the tense e-scooter debate even closer to home.
Paris' decision came after years of anger over the danger that e-scooters pose on roads, particularly following the death of a rider in 2019 who was hit by a van.
This helped to fuel the city's widespread opposition to the machines and ultimately their downfall in what was one of the biggest markets for e-scooters in the world.
Yet, calls are growing elsewhere across Europe to crackdown on the battery-powered machines.
For years, claims have been made that e-scooters terrorise the streets of Britain's cities, particularly London, where over 4200 are fore hire across the capital and millions of journeys have been made so far.
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Across the UK, trails of e-scooter hire schemes have been rolled out fast and aggressively across cities since 2020, which has been accompanied by a boom in private sales.
As a cost-effective, speedy and environmentally friendly alternative to travel - the e-scooter revolution quickly took shape.
In 2020, a law came into force to enable the rental e-scooter trials to take place.
The rules to date state that you can only use one on a public road and on a cycle lane, if you rent one from a government-approved scheme.
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If you have a privately-owned scooter than they can only be used rode on private land - a law regularly, but perhaps unknowingly, broken all over the country.
Although, the rules could be changing.
On 22 June 2022, it was announced that the government was continuing to look at the issue of regulation and would be publishing its evaluation of the e-scooter trials in due course.
Arguments against the battery-powered machines are getting louder, particularly over riders going too fast and being careless, while riding where they are not allowed.
According to the latest Department from Transport figures, there were 1,349 recorded collisions and 1,437 casualties involving e-scooters in the year to the end of June 2022.
A survey by last year found most people want some sort of punishment for anti-social electric scooter riding - but points on their licence was the least popular option.
However, 26.5 per cent of the 1,508 people surveyed wanted anti-social riding to result in an on-the-spot fine.
The electric scooters aren't popular among law enforcement either.
Back in 2019, the police were already threatening to take them away from their users. In 2021, police issued fresh warnings against risky and dangerous use of the machines.
Police data from 2021 also revealed that thieves up and down the country were using e-scooters in crimes, including as getaway vehicles.
In a bid to crackdown on the machines being wrongfully used, police began to prosecute commuters who bring them on public transport in 2022.
Transport for London had already banned e-scooters a year earlier but following safety concerns that they could burst into flames, the police pressed ahead with issuing fines.
Last Christmas, it was noticed that plenty of retailers were selling e-scooters despite them being banned from public spaces and roads.
“It’s irresponsible that retailers are selling these e-scooters, which they know cannot be used on public roads, Tom McNeil, West Midlands assistant police and crime commissioner told
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“Many people are confused about the rules. I’ve been out with police officers and seen people stopped on privately owned e-scooters and they appeared to have no idea they weren’t allowed to be riding them.”
McNeil has been calling for a ban on the electric machines until the government gets a proper handle on how to regulate their use.
