Electric Scooters in Paris: Goal for Zero Minors with a New Feature

Staffing from the end of November, identity card verification begins for electric scooters operated by Dott, Lime, and Tier in Paris.

The situation is tense between electric scooter operators and the Paris City Hall. The operators are proposing ideas to improve the service, while the city hints at banning them. Without waiting, Lime, Tier, and Dott are adopting two of their 11 measures announced on October 11. In addition to the registration of electric scooters, the apps will attempt to limit use by minors.

Strengthened control for the ban on scooters for minors

Already, electric scooters were forbidden for minors on these platforms. However, users under 18 are often seen daily, often without any knowledge of traffic laws and electric micromobility devices. It was easy to create an account and activate a scooter by entering a date of birth that indicates an adult age.

Starting next week, Lime, Dott, and Tier will implement stricter controls. It will be necessary to register an ID to confirm an age over 18. Using a scooter will be possible twice without this ID, but the account will be blocked from accessing if none is registered after a third attempt.

This will not prevent a parent from granting access to a child, but the child must use the linked phone. Indeed, an ID is linked only to a single account on a single phone.

A simple scan of the ID card?

We have seen the system with Lime, where the app scans the ID card via the camera. An algorithm analyzes and compares the information with that of the account, and validates access to the scooters.

It is also impossible to scan a photo or a screen displaying the card, as the algorithm can detect such practices. For the rest, Lime and other operators are exploring multiple solutions to reduce violations and accidents: exclusion of offenders for riding two at once, or even detection of riding on sidewalks.

Read also: Anti-sidewalks: we tested Lime’s innovative system