Lime criticised for offering free rides before Paris e-scooter referendum

Deputy mayor objects to incentive of free 10-minute rides to those who sign up to electoral register

The US scooter rental company Lime has come under fire from Paris officials for offering free 10-minute rides to users who register to vote in next month’s referendum on whether the French capital should ban for-hire e-scooters.

Paris city hall has warned that the capital’s fleet of 15,000 for-hire e-scooters presented safety concerns, stressed pedestrians and clogged-up streets, and the mayor, Anne Hidalgo, has taken the unusual step of calling a public vote on April 2 over what she called an “extremely divisive” issue.