PARIS THREATENS ELECTRIC SCOOTER FIRMS WITH BAN

Paris is clamping down on the growing use of electric scooters by forcing operators to sign a charter of good practice or face a ban.

The French capital is inundated with “trottinettes electriques,” as Parisians call them, with a string of companies such as Lime, Bird and Uber providing the speedy devices. The rental fleet of scooters is estimated at 15,000 and growing fast. Elisabeth Borne, the transport minister, said their sudden arrival had brought “the law of the jungle” to Paris streets. A total of 284 people were injured and five killed in accidents involving scooters in 2017.

In September, e-scooters will be authorized only in bicycle lanes and on minor roads, with a maximum speed of 24 km/h.