Self-service scooters in Paris: no ban yet but pressure

It is not the end of self-service scooters in Paris.

At least not yet.

The operators present in the capital were invited to an important meeting this Thursday at the Hôtel de Ville.

Two years after being selected by the municipality following a call for tenders to each operate 5,000 electric vehicles, the first deputy mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire (PS), and the transport assistant, David Belliard (EELV), wanted to discuss this activity with them.

Internally, we even slipped that the municipality was seriously considering not renewing the market, while the contract linking the operators to the City will end in March 2023.

But at the end of this interview, Nicolas Gorse, the general manager of Dott, assures that there was no question of it.

However, he is cautious, feeling the tone harden.

“The City of Paris expects us to be in action, in consultation, on the dimensions of the public, environmental and security domain.

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Environmentalists call for non-renewal of the market

The operators seem ready to respond favorably to these requests.

"We are mobilized, at work, to try to once again improve our sector", adds Nicolas Gorse.

Since 2020, measures have already been taken.

Compulsory parking in 2,600 dedicated spaces, limiting to 10 km/h in 700 zones, maintenance and recycling of vehicles...

According to a survey conducted by Ipsos, commissioned by operators, 62% of Parisians also note an improvement in the management of scooters.

But this seems insufficient for part of the municipal majority, and especially the ecologists of Paris.

Frédéric Badina Serpette, EELV adviser to the capital, was at the town hall on Thursday.

Certainly no coincidence.

The elected official came to announce that his group is asking for the non-renewal of the market, because he considers the balance sheet "negative" of scooter operators.

The City has yet to respond.