France
Parisians Vote to Triple SUV and 4×4 Parking Fees
Paris, France Parisians have voted to triple parking costs for sports utility vehicles (SUVs), as the city aims to tackle air pollution and climate breakdown by targeting rich drivers in heavy, large and polluting cars. In a referendum held on Sunday 4th February 2024, which was closely watched by other capital cities, 54.6% voted in…
Paris Ranks Number One of 148 European Bike Share Systems
Paris, France Cycle Industries Europe recently released a comprehensive summary of European bike share systems. In summary, it reported that there are now systems in 148 cities across Europe with only 10 cities of 100,000 or greater population that do not yet have bike sharing at all. Not only did Paris rank number one, but…
Product Briefs: The Beam, MAHLE, Pendix, WAU, Ortlieb and Porsche
Paris, France French start-up The Beam has launched an eye-catching new helmet that, at first glance, resembles a full-face downhill helmet but is designed very specifically for urban commuters. The Virgo is a full-face helmet weighing just 650 grams and styled for the urban market, including an LED light at the back. It is specifically…
Product Briefs: Mavic E-Bike Motor, Greater Bosch Security and More
Annecy, France French brand Mavic has unveiled its own superlight e-bike motor, the X-Tend, as the company searches for a partner to help take the motor to production. The X-Tend’s release prompted recollections of another electronic innovation by Mavic, when it led the shift to electronic derailleurs with the launch of its Zap system in…
Paris Votes to Ban E-Scooter Share Services
Paris, France A referendum of residents in Paris, once a pioneer of e-scooter share services, has voted overwhelmingly to ban them from the city. More than 89% of participating residents voted for the end of self-service scooters in Paris, which was an early adopter of scooter share services when it introduced them in 2018. Three…
Paris Referendum to Consider Scooter Ban
Paris, France A referendum of Paris residents in April will vote on a proposal to ben e-scooter share services in the French capital. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has indicated she supports banning e-scooters from Paris streets, despite being a globally-recognised champion for cycling commuting and active transport. She said safety concerns and managing e-scooter parking…
Noise Radars to Quieten Heart of Paris
Paris, France Paris authorities are implementing two measures to quieten vehicle noise in the city and curb traffic levels to create a calmer city centre. The city has switched on its first noise radars in recent weeks, setting up an automated system to identify excessively loud vehicles, such as “roaring motorcycles or cars”, and issue…
$5.2 Million Financing Round for Repairable Battery Maker
Bordeaux, France A French company producing e-bike batteries that can be repaired in less than 10 minutes has raised €3.3 million (A$5.2 million) in a new financing round. The company, Gouach, plans to use the funds to boost its team of 15 people and market its eco-friendly battery to fleet operators and manufacturers in the…
Is Driving the New Smoking?
Paris, France A new French law requiring car advertisements to include messages encouraging people to use other modes of transport has sparked speculation about whether Australia might be ready for a similar move. The French legislation, passed in December, will require all advertising by car manufacturers to include one of three messages: “Consider carpooling”, “For…
Paris Scooter Speeds Reduced to Address Accidents
Paris, France Share scooters in Paris are being restricted to 10 km/h for all but a few streets, in response to a large number of pedestrian injuries involving electric scooters. Paris has been an important market for scooter sharing companies and the three that received permits to operate in the city have done extremely well…