France Increases Age Limit, Fines For E-scooters
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published March 29, 2023 | 09:18 PM
France increased the minimum age for using an electric scooter from 12 to 14 on Wednesday ahead of a weekend vote in Paris on whether to ban rental of the devices
Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Mar, 2023 ) :France increased the minimum age for using an electric scooter from 12 to 14 on Wednesday ahead of a weekend vote in Paris on whether to ban rental of the devices.
The government unveiled a new regulatory plan for e-scooters on Wednesday increasing the age limit as well as hiking fines for riding on them with another person from 35 Euros to 135 ($150).
"The explosion in use (of scooters) has come with an increase in the number of accidents. It's a cause for worry," Transport Minister Clement Beaune told a press conference, adding that one in five accidents in Paris involved two people sharing an e-scooter.
The new rules will cover all scooters -- privately owned and free-floating ones for rent via apps such as Lime, Dott or Tier which are now available in more than 200 towns across France, Beaune said.
Parisians are to be asked on Sunday to vote in a referendum organised by city authorities on whether to ban free-floating e-scooters.
Fans view them as a fun, affordable and emissions-free mode of transport, while critics say they are dangerous, often driven badly, and clutter up the capital's already crowded streets.
Lower speed limits and dedicated parking zones have already been introduced in a bid to address complaints by other road users and pedestrians.
- 'Dumbed down the debate' - Beaune, an ally of centrist President Emmanuel Macron and an outspoken critic of Socialist Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, favours tighter regulation for scooters rather than an outright ban.
"It's an important consultation (on Sunday) that will be watched by a lot of other towns in France and overseas," Beaune told the Europe 1 radio station. "I find it a shame that we have caricatured and dumbed down the debate.
"Instead of having it as 'for' or 'against', we could do 'for, with rules'," he added.
Free-floating scooter operators signed a charter on Wednesday as part of Beaune's regulation plan that commits them to working on safety improvements, extending the life of batteries to at least five years, and recycling their products in France.
"We're still a young industry which is calling for more regulation," Erwann Le Page from Berlin-based Tier told AFP. "We know that everything isn't perfect, that there are things to improve... We need to be able to convince non-users that we have a role to play in cities."
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 4 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 04 May 2024
Pakistan marks World Press Freedom Day
High-level Saudi business delegation due on May 5
Stocks heat up as US labour market cools
President approves Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024
Implementation of merit, justice to oppressed segments top priorities: CPO
Overseas Kashmir community delegation calls on AJK President, discusses latest s ..
Govt believes in freedom of press: Amir Muqam
Labour urges UK election after Tory losses
Health authorities asked for action against alleged illegal tenders at Services ..
Spain scraps national bullfighting prize sparking debate
More Stories From Business
-
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 4 May 2024
19 minutes ago -
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 04 May 2024
55 minutes ago -
CCP approves scheme of arrangement for restructuring of PIACL
10 hours ago -
High-level Saudi business delegation due on May 5
12 hours ago -
Stocks heat up as US labour market cools
12 hours ago -
Planning minister stresses need for establishing digital corridor
12 hours ago
-
Burj Solar install Pakistan´s first distributed generation Wind Power project
12 hours ago -
TEVTA’s BoD decides capacity building, adoption of frugality
13 hours ago -
US hiring slows more than expected in sign of cooler market
13 hours ago -
Stocks heat up as US labour market cools
14 hours ago -
Stocks heat up as US labour market cools
14 hours ago -
US hiring slows more than expected in sign of cooler market
14 hours ago