Electric scooter rental in Paris? Did we really do this?
Yes!
Looking back on it, I still can’t believe we did but it was so much fun and we’re so glad we got up our nerve and tried renting e-scooters. We liked it a lot and we lived to tell you all about it 🙂 Read on and learn all you need to know to ride an electric scooter in Paris!
If you’re interested in other unusual things to do in Paris, check out Naddya’s great post with lots of ideas!
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Electric Scooter Rental in Paris
Table of Contents
We had only been in Paris a few hours when we realized that there were little electric ride-on scooters ALL OVER Paris. They were lined up on sidewalks, grouped in twos and threes on corners, whizzing past us on the streets and virtually everywhere people gathered.
We saw local men and women in business attire on e-scooters, clearly on their way to a meeting or a meal. There were also lots of tourists using them. Strangely, we didn’t see e-scooters being used by children. Clearly, electric scooters were an easy and inexpensive way to get around Paris.
Of course, we had heard of these e-scooters before but we don’t have them at home in Vancouver and we had never had the opportunity to try them before or see them in action.
It only took a day before decided we had to try them for ourselves. After all we reasoned, we’re motorcycle riders so riding a little electric scooter couldn’t be all that hard. We actually found it pretty easy to get the hang of! Even if you’re only in Paris for one day, it would be easy to get around using one of these e-scooters.
Electric Scooter Paris – How To Start
We soon figured out that there were quite a few different companies operating electric scooters in Paris. Known locally as trotinettes eléctrique, electric scooters are provided by more than 12 different firms. Of the 20,000 e-scooters in Paris, most are operated by the larger providers – Lime, Bird, Bolt, Ciric, and Voi. The latest news is that Paris will select just three firms in late 2019 who will be licensed to operate the fleets of electric scooters.
No matter which electric scooter rental in Paris you choose to use, the process to get started is the same.
- Download the appropriate app to your Smartphone (just search for the firm name) and set up an account using a credit card.
- Use the geo-locator in the app to find a nearby scooter
- Scan the QR code on the scooter handlebars to activate the e-scooter.
- Ride
Lime Scooter Paris & Bird Scooter Paris – Our Favourites
We used Lime Scooters and Bird Scooters in Paris. There seemed to be more of them available in the areas we frequented. We also thought the Lime Scooters and Bird scooters looked well-maintained and safe to ride.
Lime Scooters are easily identifiable by the large Lime name on the handle of the electric scooter. Bird Scooters were also easy to spot by the large white attachment on the handle with Bird emblazoned on it.

E-Scooter Paris – How it Works
No matter what scooter you decide to ride, the process is the same:
- After you download the app and scan the QR code, it will unlock the scooter. Pro Tip: Always check the battery level before you ride. It will indicate how full it is by the number of bars showing.
- Stand on the scooter, push off and then push the throttle button with your thumb to go
- Stand with both feet on the footboard with your front foot at 90 degrees and your back foot at a 45 degree angle to your front foot
- Use the handbrake with your left hand (just like a bicycle brake)
- Tap the button on the app when you’re finished.
- Park the rental electric scooter in Paris in designated areas, as indicated on the app. When thinking about how to park, park the e-scooter just like a bike
E-Scooter Rental Paris – Where to Go
You can go almost anywhere in Paris on an electric scooter!
We rode rented electric scooters in Paris all over the place. When we had to meet our private Paris tour guide in Montmartre, we rode electric scooters from our hotel in the the 1st arr. to Montmartre. Despite that we had to go some distance uphill, the e-scooters did very well (and we’re not small people!)
We rode our Lime scooters in Paris when we needed to get somewhere a little quicker than just walking. The Bolt scooters, Lime Scooters and Bird Scooters were available on almost every corner. If we weren’t able to see an available scooter, we just flashed up the App and found scooters just around the corner.
We also rode small scooters in Paris just for fun! It was quite warm when we were in Paris and we found riding an e-scooter in Paris was very refreshing and cooling. As a bonus, we saw more of Paris as we scooted along :-). My favourite ride was along the Seine river bank.
Electric Scooter Laws in Paris
- rented electric scooter in Paris are limited to 25km/h
- You must be at least 12 years old to ride an e-scooter in Paris
- E-scooters may carry one passenger only. We saw many couples riding together, but this has now been banned. You may not carry a child
- Do not use earphones while riding an electric scooter in Paris
- You may not ride on sidewalks
Paris Sidewalk Scooters – Top Safety Tips
Riding an e-scooter in Paris isn’t difficult! Here are a few tips for riding small scooters safely and without incident:
- If available, use a helmet. This is particularly important if you ride e-scooters regularly or for longer distances. Not only will a helmet protect your head but it also acts as sun protection (especially if it has a visor) and will keep you warmer in cool weather
- Ride slowly, especially when you’re learning. Electric scooters in Paris have a top speed of 25 kilometres per hour but you don’t have to go that fast.
- Practice on a quiet street before you venture out onto busier streets
- Use a bike lane. There are 700 kilometres of cycles paths and routes in Paris. Many main arteries in Paris have separated bike lanes (piste cyclable) and lanes denoted by a painted path on the road (bande cyclable). You can also ride your electric scooter in bus lanes that are specially marked.
- Take turns slowly. When you begin riding an e-scooter you’ll learn how to get the feel for turning. Don’t take sharp turns, as you’re more likely to lose your balance and fall. Don’t brake in a turn.
- Avoid busy roads without bike lanes. Drivers in Paris may appear to drive erratically, especially if you’re accustomed to North American drivers! Do yourself a favour and ride your Paris electric scooter on quieter roads.
- Don’t ride an e-scooter in the rain or on wet roads. I learned this the hard way. Rented e-scooters in Paris tend to slip on wet streets when braking. Just don’t.
- Use the bell. Most rented electric scooters in Paris come with a bell that looks like a bicycle bell. Know how to use it and keep your hand near it when you’re riding. It will come in handy when someone walks into your path or you want to go around someone!
- If you want to take a photo of yourself on the scooter, pick one of these great locations in Paris for photos.

Electric Scooter Cost in Paris
All the e-scooter firms in Paris charge a fixed rate to unlock a scooter and then per minute as you ride. Rates and promotions vary by city, time of day and day of the week. You can only really determine the cost of a ride by tapping on a scooter on a map.
Our Lime Scooter Paris and Bird Scooter Paris rides typically cost us around $7.50 (CDN). For one of our longer rides, I paid $18.73 CDN.
The price of renting an e-scooter in Paris isn’t super-cheap, but I wouldn’t categorize it as expensive either. It is similar to what you might pay for a subway ride, but much more fun :-).
Electric Scooter Tours in Paris
There are some really fun tours you can take in Paris while riding an electric scooter. These tours allow you to take in more of the sights of Paris than you would be able to see if you were just walking. Win win! You get to have the fun of riding a scooter but also see more of this beautiful city!
If you’re a bit hesitant about riding an electric scooter in Paris, these tours can help. The tour guides help and provide some basic instructions for riding a scooter. As a bonus, you can keep riding after the tour is over and keep on having fun :-).
This tour is an excellent choice. It’s two hours and capped at 10 people, which I really like.
Check the latest price and availability here.
This e-scooter tour combines the best of both a walking tour and a tour by car. This historical tour of Paris will take you through some of the most interesting historical sites with a knowledgeable guide. This kind of tour would make a great gift from Paris!
Check the latest price and availability here.
Electric Scooter Rental Paris – Controversy
When electric scooter rental first came to Paris in 2018 there was a great deal of controversy about whether the scooter “craze” would ruin Paris. City officials in other cities labelled e-scooters a menace and a regular headache. There were stories of abandoned electric scooters piling up and plaguing city streets.
But, it appears that the expected controversy didn’t cause much of a stir in Paris.
Parisians are so accustomed to riding motor scooters that riding electric scooters wasn’t such a big deal. As stated in The Guardian, Parisians are pretty quick to deny any opinion that e-scooters are uncool. Despite that, some Parisians have expressed irritation at the scooter clutter on pavements.
While electric scooter companies operating in the United States hire independent scooter chargers who pick up and charge their e-scooters each night, the e-scooter firms in Paris retrieve their own scooters every night to charge and repair them if needed, protecting their investment from vandalism. The scooters are deployed to popular spots in the morning, fully charged and ready to use.
Video – How to Ride an Electric Scooter in Paris
Have you tried riding an electric scooter in Paris or elsewhere? Did you love it too?
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Thanks very much. We loved our experience riding e-scooters in Paris.
I would be a bit scared!
Honestly, thinking about it was more scary than actually doing it! Once I got started, it wasn’t scary at all 🙂
I have never driven anything that I havent crashed, so this would be an adventure 😀 Seems like a lot of fun though 😀
Thanks for your comment, Ann – riding the electric scooters in Paris was a lot of fun 🙂
OMG! I loooove electric scooters! I was so afraid to try them at first, but as soon as I first did in Malaga, Spain, I was going with them literally everywhere. Awesome post…Will definitely get my Lime in Paris too!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one, Helga! We just loved riding them in Paris and now we look for them wherever we travel 🙂
I’ve seen these pop up in a few cities now and they do look kinda fun, but I’m not sure I’d want to use them haha. They are so convenient though.
You should definitely try them, Clazz, at least once! I thought it was super fun and not hard at all.
An excellent guide! I’m not really a fan of scooters anywhere and that includes Paris. I hate how people just dump them anywhere and I know you aren’t supposed to ride them on the sidewalk, but people do! I wish they had like a designated space in the city where they could be used, but for now, that is not the case. I know they can be fun so I wish everyone who wants to ride one the best of luck and stay safe!
Thanks for your comment, Andi. I know that a lot of people feel the same way you do, and I think that’s why so many cities are approving bylaws to moderate the use of electric scooters. I think this is a great idea as there are a lot of positive things about electric scooters- sadly, there will always be people who flout the rules!
This sounds fun, but I think I’d like to try it at home first to get the hang of a scooter before hitting a busy city like Paris!
Thanks Leigh 🙂 We found a quiet lane to try it out first so we didn’t have to worry about anyone else but as soon as we felt confident enough, we rode out onto the streets and had a great time!
This is such a great post on a fun way to see Paris!
Thanks Maheen 🙂 We had so much fun riding electric scooters in Paris.
I’m simply not brave enough! I’m way too clumsy and would most probably spend my trip to Paris in a hospital … but maybe I might give it a try after reading your informative article.
Give it a try – just don’t do it on a wet street! That was the only time I scared myself because there just isn’t enough traction. Lesson learrned! But definitely try it on a dry street 🙂
Great post! I definitely will rent one the next time I go to Paris! Thank you for the thorough instructions.
Thanks Chrissy 🙂 Renting an electric scooter in Paris is definitely one of the more fun things to do there.
I eyed these quite carefully this past summer but did not take the plunge … (or the ride!) Thanks for all the tips. Next time I am going to give it a go!
Ooohhh, you definitely should! It really was so much fun and not at all hard. Go for it next time 🙂
Wow. I had no idea Paris had been taken over by scooters.
I would normally go for hiring bikes, but this sounds even more fun!!
Hiring bikes is great idea too, but the electric scooters in Paris were so darn handy! I liken them to an Uber but less expensive and more fun 🙂
I spent summer in Europe they’re everywhere, but I didn’t have the courage to try, only because I’m so clumsy that would’ve probably fall million times haha I love those tips though, I might try next time.
You should definitely try them! I’m quite clumsy too and I thought I would fall but it was actually really easy to get the hang of it. Not too hard at all!
I had no idea! What a great way to get around Paris, especially if you know your way around the side streets… I’ve seen these in other cities but I admit I’ve never tried one. Next time in Paris!
I can easily recommend trying an electric scooter in Paris, Leyla! They’re really fun, relatively inexpensive and make it so easy to get around.
This sounds like fun and a great way to see Paris. I might just look into that next time I’m there.
You really should, Bree. It was so much fun and a great way to see more of Paris 🙂
This sounds more organized than it is in the US. At least in Denver it’s still highly unregulated and dangerous for both riders and cars neither of whom know the rules.
I had heard a little bit about the problems in some US cities with scooters so I expected there to be similar issues in Paris but it seemed quite different! I think it might be because Paris is so used to motor scooters and bicycles that adding in electric scooters was a more natural fit.
We just got back from a month in Europe and saw these scooters everywhere–especially in Berlin. I was not brave enough to try them, but your post have given more confidence for next time. Thanks!
I was initially quite worried about renting these scooters in Paris, but I’m so glad I did! They were so much fun and made for a great mode of transportation.
How much fun! We saw these in Paris and also Madrid in August/September. The scooter craze really has taken over major cities everywhere – we have them here in Medellin, too. I love the idea of doing a scooter tour! We’ll check that out next time we’re in Paris – and the how-to tips are helpful.
It was really fun 🙂 I had heard about these electric scooters in other cities but hadn’t seen them myself until we got to Europe – I just love them!
Oh, this must be really fun. Definitely a time-saver. Must be fun for kids, too.
It was definitely fun! Kids under 12 aren’t allowed to ride them, so we really didn’t see many kids on them.
What a wonderful way to see Paris. We have been thinking of purchasing an e-scooter for transportation when calling in at various ports around the world; or should I say, The Captain has been thinking of doing so …now I am glad to have these safety tips should he ever decide to make the purchase.
Thanks for your comment, Lisa. We really loved riding the electric scooters all over Paris – great idea to have one with you when you’re cruising!