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Parisians vote in referendum to remove electric scooters for hire from the capital's streets

Almost 90% of voters have decided to remove electric scooters from the streets of Paris

Description

On Sunday 2 April 2023, Parisians registered on the electoral roll were called to vote "for or against electric scooters for hire" at one of the 203 polling stations set up for the occasion, before the Paris City Council made its decision.

Those who voted against the scooters were considered to be dangerous, environmentally unfriendly (due to the short life of their lithium batteries) and a source of conflict in the public space. Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, after an intense debate, decided to bring citizens to the polls to directly participate in the decision on the future of these devices in Paris.

In total, Parisians voted against keeping self-service scooters in the capital with 89.03% of the votes cast. However, it is worth noting that the turnout was low: only 103,000 people out of the 1.3 million who could vote in the consultation organised by the City Council took part (7.46%).

The mayor of Paris celebrates "a victory for local democracy" and assures that on 1 September there will be no more scooters for hire on the streets of the capital.

France 24 https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230402-parisians-vote-to-ban-for-hire-e-scooter-rentals-from-french-capital

Le Figaro https://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/paris-le-vote-sur-les-trottinettes-en-libre-service-a-coute-390-000-euros-20230406 

Les Echos https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/tourisme-transport/trottinettes-electriques-cinq-questions-sur-le-vote-a-paris-1921266