After 4 years of electric scooter-sharing services in France’s capital city, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has confirmed a vote to determine if the micromobility option will be banned in the city.
The referendum in April has been announced following a lengthy review by city officials, with the mayor herself in favour of the ban. What are the key issues facing the use of e-scooters in Paris?
National laws are vague in terms of regulation.
Residents feel that riders are reckless.
Excessive riding on sidewalks and in pedestrianised areas.
Poor parking and the free-floating nature of the service have created an eyesore.
Antisocial use of the devices, particularly by tourists.
It should be noted that steps have been taken to address some of these concerns, such as limiting speeds and releasing a clear code of conduct, but the e-scooters remain extremely divisive.
With 12 active bike and e-scooter sharing services in the city, Paris is one of the largest markets for micromobility services. The results of this referendum will therefore be watched closely by industry and consumers alike; the conclusion may well inform future decisions in comparable locations.
Comments Off on CAKE and Volta Trucks join forces to provide world’s first electric microhub for last-mile deliveries
LEVA-EU member CAKE and Volta Trucks have announced a joint initiative for providing global fashion giant the H&M Group with fully integrated, electric deliveries to its customers in Paris. Starting in February, the H&M Group will be able to deliver its orders all the way from the warehouses to the door of the customer, leveraging an unparalleled, efficient combination of electric trucks and electric two-wheelers. Tailored for future urban logistics, this solution aims to have a minimum impact on the city environment.
“As a majority of today’s last-mile delivery chains will soon be banned in many of the world’s largest cities, H&M seeks to engage in future-proof solutions already now. This will enable for contributions of lower emissions and less congestion, while benefiting from far more efficient deliveries all the way to the end customer, paving the way for both healthier cities and business advantages,” says Stefan Ytterborn, founder and CEO, CAKE.
Rolling hubs, and couriers on two wheels
CAKE and Volta Trucks were both founded to tackle the modern challenges of transportation. Coming from two different vehicle platforms, yet sharing the same objectives, the integration of the two technologies offers immediate opportunities for e-commerce and the fast-growing delivery industry, now on its way to meeting game-changing laws and regulations globally.
Volta Trucks, whose vehicles are electric trucks with industry-standard loading capacity, has developed a design that offers emission-free transportation and enhanced safety in urban environments. Allowed to pass through future city borders, the electric trucks make the perfect vessel for carrying full loads of parcels, and harbour in central locations while parcels are delivered last-mile by a set of CAKE bikes reaching the customers fast, without impacting the traffic, or struggling with parking.
“We’ve designed the full-electric Volta Zero to be the cleanest, safest and most efficient urban delivery vehicle. Most of our customers are using trucks to deliver from out-of-town warehouses to inner-city stores. But as a forward-thinking brand, we’ve always sought innovative partners to deliver new and industry-redefining solutions. The partnership between Volta Trucks, CAKE and H&M Group will showcase how a combination of zero tailpipe emission transport solutions can bring benefits to brands, customers, and city centre environments.” says Essa Al-Saleh, Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks.
“An important part of our approach is to work openly and closely with partners, including to reduce emissions throughout our value chain. Initiatives like those with Volta Trucks and Cake help us advance our sustainability goals faster than we could on our own and have a positive impact in leading the transformation to a better fashion future. This starts with improving sustainability performance in our own operations and demonstrating the resilience of a sustainable business direction”, Paul Ticehurst, H&M Group Logistics Transport Lead.
Paris leads the way
Paris is one of the first cities in the world to regulate city transportation in favour of congestion and the climate. The French capital is targeting a late 2023 introduction of legislation, effectively limiting the movement of cars in its city centre. CAKE electric mopeds and motorcycles will be exempt from the ban that is expected to remove approximately 100,000 cars from the streets each day. Additionally, two-wheelers using combustion engines will by September 1st be subject to parking fees, while electric alternatives continue to enjoy free parking on Paris streets.
New innovations see carbon footprint reduced through increasingly unique, scenario-specific technologies.
The “Le Ciel & La Terre” funeral home in Paris, France will utilize the first electric-bicycle hearse named “Corbicyclette”. Using the new vehicle during funeral proceedings reduces the overall environmental impact of the event. Furthermore, the creation allows many of the capital’s new bicycle-focused regulations to be met, allowing for easier transportation in the city centre.
According to Le Ciel & La Terre, the hearse is anchored to the platform of an electrically assisted steel three-wheeled bicycle, which gives it the power to take on steep slopes. The airtight compartment intended to accommodate the coffin is made of solid, light, natural and environmentally friendly marine plywood. Being a Light Electric Vehicle, the Corbicyclette does not emit any greenhouse gasses during its operational phase.
Creator Isabelle Plumereau shared, “The Corbicyclette is to propose a new ritual for families that I accompany, especially at the cemetery,” allowing for “a slow, silent, quiet procession, to the rhythm of the steps of the people who walk behind and who make the procession.”
Europe’s main observatory on urban mobility, Eltis, releases write-up on the role of local authorities in planning and managing rapidly growing new mobility services
The case study of Paris explores how action was taken after the swift introduction of free-floating e-scooter fleets and increased personal ownership, including the introduction of a Code of Good Conduct while awaiting a legal framework.
Of key interest is the 18-month period that could be considered a ‘legal vacuum’, in which e-scooters were not subject to the Highway Code, and the National Law on Mobility (LOM) was stalled as it awaited approval by the French government.
Paris’ governing body acted to create a working group for all e-scooter stakeholders, inviting operators of the devices to sign a Code of Good Conduct before the end of May 2019. From here, any new operator of e-scooters in the region was invited to join the group to discuss the use of rental e-scooters in public spaces.
The Code of Good Conduct provided guiding principles and paved the way for good public-private collaboration. Operators were encouraged to work on a deployment strategy that respects other users, with the main aspects of the Code covering:
Parking and riding rules
Operators’ commitments regarding safety and security
Respect for other users, particularly people with disabilities
Relationship with the city authorities
Use of e-scooters in line with sustainability priorities of the city.
Stress was placed on the need to ensure pedestrian comfort and safety while awaiting national legislation. Paris is a leading example of local governance and public-private cooperation. Other similar cities are increasingly deciding to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to managing the offer and operations of new mobility services.
In a landscape where cities are experiencing a transport transformation in many forms, a well-regulated and integrated urban mobility policy will ensure a smooth transition that is a success for all users of public space and road systems.
Using Paris as a case study, transport planners may observe both successes and challenges in adapting to unfolding technological advances. Read the full Eltis write-up, which includes additional context, results, transferability, and opportunities for development, here.
Comments Off on Biking in Style: VanMoof takes over the streets of Paris during Fashion Week
All eyes were on Dutch e-bike brand and LEVA-EU member VanMoof, who brought a new, eye-catching mobility trend to this year’s Men’s Paris Fashion Week
During Men’s Paris Fashion Week, VanMoof rallied an international crew to showcase the ease of city living on an e-bike during one of the busiest and most visible times of the year for the industry. The transformative potential of the e-bike took center stage during VanMoof’s appearance at Paris Fashion Week. Proposing that riding electric offers city dwellers the chance to reclaim their space, the city e-bike pioneers encouraged people to use their bikes as a tool to unlock the endless potential of a modern-day city.
All eyes on VanMoof
Paris Fashion Week has traditionally been a place where editors, stylists, tastemakers, and creatives from around the world come together for seven days to determine the direction of the fashion world. Those who flock to the yearly event have traditionally used cars to drive around the congested city in stuffy 30-degree heat, stuck in endless traffic jams and frustrated at the thought of being late to the next show.
But this year showed that trend to be a thing of the past. This June for the first time, VanMoof supplied over 50 e-bikes to give visitors from all over the world the opportunity to travel around the streets of Paris without breaking a sweat.
VanMoof’s current Parisian riders include designer Stephane Ashpool, Simon Jacquemus, and Sarah Andleman, each of whom are regularly sighted riding VanMoof e-bikes in the city. This season they were joined by international musicians, editors, and creatives including the likes of Skinny Macho, Aminé, Diplo, David Fischer from HighSnobiety, Dazed street-style photographers and many more.
A bike-positive future for Paris
The e-bike brand’s noticeable presence across shows, events, and parties in Paris comes at a crucial time, as attitudes towards biking in the city are undergoing a change. The city municipality is actively encouraging biking, having introduced multiple incentives to make choosing an e-bike more accessible – an act that makes it clear that city legislators worldwide are recognizing the fundamental need to accelerate efforts to both facilitate and encourage biking in urban areas. As part of the city’s Bike Plan, 180,000 additional bike parking spots will be added to the current total of 60,000 – more than tripling the city’s bike racks. And between now and 2026, Parisian riders will gain 180 km of long-awaited and permanent bike lanes.
Read the full press release and see the custom VanMoof e-bikes here.
Comments Off on Swedish electric motorcycle pioneer CAKE expands operations in France
Local organization and central Paris storefront to meet the rising demand for electric, two-wheeled vehicles in the city of light.
CAKE, the Swedish maker of premium lightweight, electric motorcycles and LEVA-EU member, today announced an expanded commercial focus on France, with Paris becoming a key city in the company’s multi-city structure philosophy. With a sales team already in place, plans include a growing local team to better serve both B2B and B2C customers. A CAKE Pop-Up Store just opened its doors in the Marais district of Paris, with a full-service CAKEsite expected to open later this year.
“Paris is a key market for us, being the epicenter of innovative, environmental legislation, a place that is buzzing with excitement for clean transportation options. We simply couldn’t think of a better city to head to next,” said Stefan Ytterborn, Founder and CEO of CAKE.
Paris bans cars Paris is targeting a late 2023 introduction of legislation, effectively limiting the movement of cars in its city center. CAKE electric mopeds and motorcycles will be exempt from the ban that is expected to remove approximately 100,000 cars from the streets each day. Additionally, two-wheelers using combustion engines will by September 1st be subject to parking fees, while electric alternatives continue to enjoy free parking on Paris streets.
“Paris is leading the way and this is an opportunity for both companies and citizens to embrace a very promising future. Fewer cars and trucks equal less congestion, enabling smoother last-mile delivery chains and cleaner, more liveable cities. Clean, silent, and efficient transportation is our entire reason to exist as a company, so we applaud this exciting development,” added Dominique Dutronc, General Sales Manager France, CAKE.
The CAKE Pop Up Store Paris is now open and is located on 55 rue Notre Dame de Nazareth.
Micromobility is a relatively new term lacking a formal definition, however, it can generally be summarised as short-distance travel with light and small vehicles. Within EU classification, micromobility vehicles fall under the L category:
A motor vehicle with less than 4 wheels
Curb weight up to and including 350kg (771 lb)
Top speed up to and incl;uding 50km/h (31 mph)
Continuous rated power does not exceed 15 kW
In cities such as Paris, facing the issues of congestion, loss of public spaces, pollution, and poor air quality, micromobility may provide a solution. Generally being better for traffic and the environment, micromobility vehicles are seeing a rapid uptake in city centres, allowing the public to travel with ease and decongest the city. The increased availability of green transport options encourages city-goers to leave their cars at home for shorter journeys, alleviating many of the issues previously discussed.
Jocelyn Loumeto, the General Delegate of the Federation of Micro Mobility Professionals (FPMM) highlights the schemes of various Parisian businesses to promote micromobility in their own workforces, such as the provision of e-scooters. View the full discussion here.
Comments Off on VP of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines on the challenge of implementing micromobility solutions in Paris
Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelin is tackling the challenges of mircomobility with the guidance of The Local Mobility Plan (LMP), adopted in 2014. This has led to launching a new service of shared e-scooters, restructuring over 90 bus lines, bike rental, and the first 100% autonomous public transport line.
Their main 6 points of the LMP are:
Making public transport more attractive
Promoting active travel modes
Changing automobile traffic
Setting up a parking policy at the agglomeration level
Better organising the flow of goods
Effective communication and information for all users
Jean-Baptiste Hamonic is the Vice-President of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in charge of sustainable mobility.
“When it comes to mobility, new environmental objectives pose a major challenge for peri-urban areas, where the personal car has long guided choices of urban planning and shaped the lifestyles of inhabitants. In recent years, flexible, efficient and attractive “micro” mobility devices and services have rapidly developed across the world, predominantly in dense urban centers, thanks to three factors: digital technology and innovation in electric charging; public policies aimed at a better share of public space; and the COVID-19 health crisis we are currently experiencing.
“Personal Light Electric Vehicles” – such as electronic kick scooters and other small electric vehicles – constitute new solutions that do better to address the diversity of mobility needs. They have also proven to be effective in addressing the problem of the first/last kilometre in combination with public transportation. However, although micro-mobility has contributed significantly to the transformation of the urban landscape, particularly in dense city centres, the peri-urban area is where the challenge remains.
These territories are often caught in a dilemma – finding sustainable mobility solutions that ensure a quality public service to the greatest number of people versus consuming too many resources. To reduce the dependency on private car usage, mobility solutions have long remained limited in terms of operational and financial performance and flexibility for travellers in peri-urban areas. But the increase of solutions over the past ten years (shared mobility, electric mobility, micro-mobility, etc.) offers new perspectives to public actors.”
