Paris Bans Rental E-Scooters by Overwhelming Vote

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has pledged to ban rented e-scooters from the city after a non-binding referendum saw an overwhelming 90% vote for their removal. The freestanding scooters, which are booked on a short-term basis through apps, will be gone from September 1, when current agreements with operators expire. Critics of the scooters say they clutter up pavements and roads, but also raise safety concerns. There were 459 accidents involving e-scooters or similar vehicles in Paris last year, including three fatalities.