After a new call for projects, the City of Lyon has selected two operators of electric scooters who were selected on environmental and safety criteria.
AT Lyon, electric scooters will therefore remain tolerated, at least for the next four years. The two operators selected (out of the eight candidate companies) will however have to comply with very specific rules.
“A means of transport complementary to the others”
So it’s official, Dr et Tier, will be able to continue to deploy in Lyon. The two companies had already been selected in 2020, when the City looked into better regulation of the use of these self-service scooters.
Regularly pointed out for their anarchic parking or during road accidents, these machines are also praised for their practical and ecological side. In 2022 in Lyon, the City counted 456,000 users unique.
So, prohibit or regulate? Valentin lung strassdeputy mayor in charge of mobility, explains Lyon’s position.
“We are talking about 4 to 5 million journeys in Lyon, it is still considerable in terms of use. And then, we have good prospects, with the means to progress on security. Self-service scooters have become a complementary means of transport“, indicates the chosen one.
Four principles must nevertheless be respected: respect for public space, personal safety, environmental exemplarity and social justice.
“Helmet selfie”, drunkenness test and sensor
The rules already known will continue to apply, starting with use reserved for adults, but also the restriction to 20km/h, local traffic bans, etc. Parking will remain supervised, with new spaces created (24 stations in January 2023 in the 1st and 4th arrondissements, a fifty by this summer). There are currently 271.
Among the novelties, a beginner mode will be offered with a 5 km/h limit that can be activated to allow beginners to practice before riding normally. Special pricing will also be put in place to encourage users to respect the highway code, such as stopping at traffic lights and giving priority to pedestrians.
An incentive rate will also be set up for prefer wearing a helmet : and “helmet selfie” can thus be taken via the mobile application of the operator, to benefit from an advantageous rate. New sensors will be gradually deployed on scooters to detect “risky behaviors“. Climb on a sidewalk or ride in pairs on the machine will automatically slow the pace to 5 km/h.
Pour avoid drunk driving, a reactivity test will be made compulsory in the evening. Also on the app, this logic test will be requested and if it is not successful, the scooter will remain stationary. Finally, the scooters will be registered for easier identification of those who do not respect the rules.
Greener scooters?
From an environmental point of view, the operators are committed to extending the lifespan of the scooters, which will thus go from the current four years to five or seven years. The same applies to the reuse of end-of-life batteries and the supply of renewable energy.
On the price side, the two operators provide -75% on trips or packages for beneficiaries of the free TCL solidarity contract.
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