Paris now requires electric scooter riders to wear high-vis vests or face fines

This isn't something Retrofit Relay usually covers, since it's about transportation rules rather than home energy upgrades, but here's what happened: Paris now requires people riding electric scooters on public roads to wear both a helmet and a high-visibility vest. Riders without an approved helmet face a €135 fine (about $155), and those without reflective gear face a €35 fine (about $40). The rules also cover other small motorized devices like electric unicycles and hoverboards, but not standard pedal-assist e-bikes, which stay under separate bicycle rules.

French officials point to a jump in serious accidents as the reason: 79 people died in e-scooter crashes last year, up from 45 the year before, and injuries in Paris rose 33% year over year. Paris already bans shared rental scooters, bars riders under 14, prohibits passengers, and caps scooter speed at 25 km/h (about 15.5 mph). Privately owned scooters remain common in France despite the rental ban, with millions in use nationwide.

This doesn't affect home energy upgrades, rebates, or anything tied to your house. It's local traffic-safety policy for a European city, included here only as a general news note rather than something requiring any action from homeowners.