Europe’s First E-Scooter Ban: Paris Takes a Stand on Shared Scooter Chaos, Who’s Next?

① Paris, France, Expels Shared Electric Scooters

Five years after the introduction of shared electric scooters in Paris, France, they have been completely removed. This is the first time in Europe that shared electric scooters have been banned. In Paris, they were initially used as a convenient means of transportation, but they became controversial as pedestrians felt threatened by reckless driving.

Moreover, shared electric scooters were haphazardly discarded on the streets, causing inconvenience to citizens. There were even cases where scooters were thrown or damaged in the Seine River or the Saint Martin Canal.

In April, Paris conducted a referendum asking 20 district residents about the pros and cons of the electric scooter rental service. One hundred three thousand eighty-four people participated, with 89% voting for expulsion. With the Paris Olympics next year, the city has actively pushed for the expulsion of shared electric scooters. As shared electric scooters disappear, the number of shared bicycles in Paris has increased. With the increase in shared bicycles, some say there is not much difference from before.

② Also a Problem in South Korea

Shared electric scooter services are also operating in South Korea. In 2018, the first shared electric scooter service appeared in Seoul. Since then, shared electric scooters have spread rapidly. However, the situation with shared electric scooters differs significantly from that in Paris, France. Shared electric scooters are often seen abandoned on the streets. Because shared electric scooters can be returned anywhere, they are left on the streets.

Under the Road Traffic Act, parking electric scooters are prohibited within 10 meters of bus stops or crosswalks. But this is not being observed. If a shared electric scooter abandoned in an alley is not seen, it can lead to accidents. Reckless driving by riders is also a significant problem.

People who drive dangerously on electric scooters are called ‘Kick-deer (Kickboard+Deer).’ The name was given because they suddenly appear like deer while driving or walking. You can also see two people riding an electric scooter without any safety devices.

A taxi driver shared a story about a female student who crossed an intersection illegally while riding an electric scooter. On the YouTube channel HanMoonChul TV, a video titled ‘”Two female students are crossing on an electric scooter. I am so surprised that my hands and feet are shaking” was posted. The taxi driver said, “In the black box footage, you can see the scooter coming from the left in advance, but from the driver’s perspective, it was hidden by the pillar (the pillar connecting the body and the roof) and only visible at the last moment,” and “I was so surprised that my hands and feet were shaking, so I quit my job and went straight home.”

Last year, there were 2,386 accidents related to electric scooters in South Korea. The numbers have increased yearly: 225 in 2018, 447 in 2019, 897 in 2020, 1,735 in 2021, and 2,386 in 2022. The number of deaths caused by electric scooters has also significantly increased, from 4 in 2018 to 26 in 2022. Mainly, half of the accidents were concentrated among teenagers and people in their 20s.

③ The Gray Area of Liability in Case of Accidents

With the amendment to the Road Traffic Act, only adults with a driving license or those over 16 years old with a motorized bicycle license can ride an electric scooter. You must always wear a helmet while driving, and more than two people cannot ride it. If you don’t wear a helmet, you will be fined $17; if you exceed the passenger limit, you will be fined $34. And if you drive under the influence of drugs, you will be fined $85. If a child under 13 drives, the guardian will be fined $85.

However, the reality is that these rules are not being observed. Because the verification process is lax, many students without licenses use them. Some apps allow you to use them immediately after mobile phone verification and card registration without a license verification. Even elementary school students illegally rent and ride electric scooters. As there are no regulations in the current law, it is not possible to sanction the companies.

If you cause an accident while driving an electric scooter without a license, it will be treated as a major fault, and you will not be able to receive insurance benefits. Since it is not mandatory to have insurance for electric scooters, compensation is difficult in case of an accident. Shared electric scooter companies are enrolled in a mutual insurance product, but the compensation is limited.

Also, electric scooters are not included in joint risk actions but are included in personal mobility devices. They are excluded from the punishment for joint risk actions. Some voices are calling for improvements to the law regarding shared electric scooters.

By. Seo Sung Min