Forget Netflix, the best saga of the moment is the scooter in Châlons-en-Champagne

Honeymoon, abandonment, return, mysterious disappearance—all the ingredients are there for the electric scooters rental story in Châlons-en-Champagne.

A spectacular start, twists and turns, a disappearance, and an unpredictable finale. You’re not watching Netflix’s latest production, but in Châlons-en-Champagne. It all begins on a beautiful spring Monday, exactly May 10, 2021.

The dream of electric scooters, before the drama

On that day, 150 electric scooters for rent appeared in the Champagne city. The American operator Bird was thrilled to announce the news, spreading through regional press. Users enjoyed a rate of 0.25 €/min and even a €39/month subscription for unlimited use (up to 30 per trip), and had to park them within one of the 50 designated zones. The operation was scheduled for one year, but given previous trials, nothing seemed to cast a shadow on the horizon.

A few weeks pass, and the dream takes shape, with 150 monthly subscribers by the end of June! “In one month, we recorded 6,000 trips. That’s about 15% more than our forecasts,” recounted Mickaël Mamou, General Manager of Bird France to Le Parisien. But then, disaster.

In December, the operator managing the fleet withdrew from the activity. “Personal reasons” we learned from L’hebdo du vendredi. Orphaned, the poor devices found new guardians as early as February 2022, with a new service provider arriving to revive the beloved mobility service among Châlonnais.

The Return of Revenge in Châlons-en-Champagne

But bang. Summer saw the number of electric devices in the 45,000-strong city plummet. And don’t blame the heatwaves. “Where have the Bird scooters gone?” questioned L’Union in early September. Apparently, three-quarters of the scooters are under maintenance. Meanwhile, Bird struggles with financial and management issues in other cities, such as Beauvais as reported by France 3 or Agen. Ultimately, the service has come to a complete halt, as autumn looms…

Surprise, an unlikely savior of the scooter horde arrives! In early November 2022, the hero is not an old Kangoo but a cargo bike. This modern vehicle from Isciaé, little used in the lanes of Châlons-en-Champagne, would now be managing the 150 scooters. On November 28, it’s not death knell but the bell of the reborn Bird scooters ringing in a local media video. And in a twist of fate, they are now 200 on the city’s streets! Long live the scooter!

Also read: The emergence of free-floating scooters in medium-sized cities