- In the wake of Paris, several French cities have seen fleets of free-floating electric scooters.
- According to a study by the 6T office, released in June 2019, 42% of users of free-floating electric scooters are tourists.
After globetrotters, globetrotters? Arrived a year and a half ago on French soil, the self-service electric scooter has now melted into the circulation of large cities, just like cars, bicycles, buses or scooters. Adopted by city dwellers for their trips, it is also widely used by tourists. In France (mainly in Paris) for example, they represent 42% of users of free-floating scooters, according to a study by the 6T office, released in June 2019.
The craze for the small two-wheeler is not limited to the capital, nor to self-service. In Marseille, Trotlib, a company specializing in events, rental and tourism on electric scooters, saw its activity double in two years. "It is due to our reputation, but not only," says Emilien Viart, co-manager of the brand. When we started in 2014, the electric scooter was anecdotal, even a little weird for everyone. Since the advent of free-floating, people have used it much more every day. There is a change in habits and a democratization of this means of transport. It is now fully integrated into the decor. "
Popular routes
And as electric scooters are spreading in many cities around the world, they are no longer an object of curiosity for tourists. Some find the same as at home and for others, a few clicks are enough to download the application. The self-service scooter company made in France Dott, notes that its very "local" application and deployed in few cities, still has 10% of foreign users in Paris.
"There are routes very popular with tourists," notes Nicolas Gorse, Managing Director of Dott France: in Paris, the triangle between the Champs-Elysées, Trocadéro and Franklin Roosevelt, walks on the banks of the Seine, along the Champ -de-Mars or from the Louvre, the cycle path rue de Rivoli which goes up to the Concorde. This summer, some users made 45-minute trips. For the expert, this mode of movement is that of "strolling": effortlessly and in a standing position, ideal for observing what surrounds us.
In tourist guides
The scooter adapts particularly well to urban tours. "It is light and therefore practical," explains Emilien Viart. You can stop when you want, fold it, take it on board and leave it at your feet for coffee. It has also become an object of lust over time: before it was childish, now it is classy. Unlike the Segway for example, more cumbersome. If it is less and less straddled by tourists, the electric scooter should not know the same fate. "We have included scooter providers in our guides in London and Berlin, because it's a good way to get around the city and discover it," says Stéphan Szeremeta, editor in chief of Petit Futé Mag .
Its expansion among tourists could however encounter some obstacles. "The Backpacker's Guide" indicates that it is not "favorable to the idea of promoting it" for the moment, as the judge "is too dangerous". Even if the adapted infrastructures are more and more numerous, circulating on a scooter is not safe everywhere and rare are the tourists who carry a helmet in their suitcase for example. An accessory not yet offered as free-floating, but highly recommended for urban adventurers.
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