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Metro disabled access ‘shame’ for Paralympic Paris

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Despite pledges made during Paris’s bid for the Paralympic Games, the city’s Metro system still falls short in terms of accessibility, according to APF France Handicap. Despite the provision of shuttle buses and accessible taxis, many wheelchair users find themselves unable to utilize the Metro efficiently. Arthur Baucheron, a prominent French TikTok influencer, expresses frustration at the limited accessibility, emphasizing his desire to utilize the Metro like any other citizen. With only one out of the 16 Metro lines fully wheelchair-accessible, individuals like Baucheron often resort to more costly and time-consuming alternatives, such as taking multiple buses.

Nicolas Caffin, a regular commuter into central Paris, echoes these sentiments, highlighting the discrepancies between Paris’s Metro and London’s Underground system. Caffin finds London’s system more reliable and accessible, with a significantly higher proportion of wheelchair-accessible stations. He emphasizes the inconvenience caused by the lack of accessibility on the Paris Metro, particularly when disruptions occur.

Despite criticisms, the International Paralympic Committee acknowledges the challenges in making significant improvements to the Metro system within the limited timeframe leading up to the Games. Instead, they point to the substantial investment in enhancing accessibility on the city’s buses. Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee, recognizes the frustrations of disabled individuals but emphasizes the positive impact of investing in bus transport accessibility.

RATP Group, responsible for operating Paris’s public transport, cites the age and density of the Metro network as significant obstacles to implementing widespread changes. However, individuals like Caffin remain resilient, emphasizing the importance of finding solutions and navigating the city’s transportation system despite its challenges.

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Brighton & Hove Albion fans stabbed before Europa match in Rome

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Two Brighton & Hove Albion fans were attacked in Rome ahead of their Europa League match against Roma. The pair sustained non-life-threatening stab wounds during the incident, which involved a group of up to seven individuals. The attack occurred while they were walking back from a bar, with one fan describing the assailants as wearing balaclavas and all dressed in black.

The victims were promptly taken to different hospitals for treatment. One fan mentioned that his injured friend might miss the game due to the severity of the wound. Sussex Police’s liaison officer for the club confirmed that both fans were okay and urged supporters to adhere to safety advice provided by the club.

While it’s unclear whether the attackers were affiliated with Roma supporters, Brighton & Hove Albion issued a warning to fans regarding street crime in Rome. They advised supporters to use the free shuttle service provided for transportation to and from the Stadio Olimpico to ensure their safety during the event.

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Paris Mayor Hidalgo trains sights on SUVs after e-scooter rental ban

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Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, fresh from her success in banning rental electric scooters, is now targeting SUVs. She plans to hold a city referendum in February to decide on increasing parking fees for SUVs, similar to the e-scooter referendum where she achieved an easy victory. Hidalgo assures that Paris residents won’t be affected, as SUV ownership within the city is relatively low. The main impact would be on suburbanites who drive SUVs into Paris for work or leisure, and they won’t be part of the voting process.

Critics suspect that Hidalgo’s focus on SUVs is a diversion from controversy surrounding her own overseas trip to New Caledonia and French Polynesia. During this two-week visit in October, she extended her stay to visit her daughter, raising eyebrows. Opposition council members criticize the timing, especially during the aftermath of the October attacks in Israel, when concerns about the Middle East conflict were high in Paris. Hidalgo’s office denies any wrongdoing, stating that extending official visits for personal reasons is a common practice, and she covered the costs for the personal portion of her trip.

Officially, Hidalgo’s visit included paying respects at a cemetery in New Caledonia and holding meetings in French Polynesia, where protests disrupted plans to view the Olympic site at Teahupo’o. Right-wing members of the Paris Assembly criticize the trip’s appropriateness, citing the €60,000 cost. They argue that it was unnecessary for Hidalgo to visit the Olympic site, as key officials involved in organizing the Games had already been there. Critics also highlight the environmental impact of Hidalgo’s long-haul flight, contrasting it with her emphasis on environmental concerns related to local transportation in Paris.

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Paris Bids Farewell to Electric Scooter Rentals

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Paris has implemented a ban on rental electric scooters due to increasing injuries and fatalities in the city. Despite the ban being supported by nearly 90% of the voters in April, voter turnout was less than 8%. This move makes Paris one of the first capitals to prohibit rented electric scooters, only five years after initially embracing them.

As someone who is a traditional cyclist, I’m frustrated by the intrusion of electric “personal vehicles” like e-scooters into our space. I’ve spent four decades advocating for cycle paths, only to see them crowded out by this new form of motorized transportation. Additionally, as a parent, I’ve witnessed numerous instances of scooters speeding down sidewalks, posing hazards that require quick avoidance. A close friend of mine even suffered a broken rib in an e-scooter accident in Paris last year, which still causes him pain.

I hold no affection for these free-floating e-scooters. If it were up to me, they would have never been invented, and Parisians would still be cycling like it was the 1970s in Amsterdam, relying on their legs rather than pushing buttons.

However, that doesn’t mean I can’t recognize a political maneuver when I see one. The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, is a member of the Socialist party, but her presidential campaign in the previous election garnered just 1.75% of the national vote. In an effort to regain political relevance, she seized upon e-scooters as her cause, conveniently forgetting that she had introduced on-street scooter rentals in 2018. She became the spokesperson for those who find scooters deeply annoying.

At the beginning of the year, she announced a referendum to let the people decide on the scooter issue, stating that she would follow the people’s choice, even if it conflicted with her personal stance. The vote took place in April with minimal publicity, and only a small fraction of Parisians participated. Predictably, older citizens, who vote regularly and dislike e-scooters, turned out in large numbers, while younger users of e-scooters were less inclined to participate. The result was a clear majority in favor of banning the machines, giving the mayor her victory.

Now, rental scooters have disappeared from the streets, much to the dismay of tourists, nightlife enthusiasts, and some commuters. However, dealers in privately-owned e-scooters remain unaffected. Unlike the transition from horses to automobiles a century ago, where horses were replaced by a more advanced technology, the e-scooters’ absence may not be permanent. These scooters have only been around for five years, and there’s a possibility they may return at some point.

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