To scoot or not to scoot?

It was the best of rides, it was the worst of rides... and now the people of Paris have had their say, it was probably the last of my e-scooter rides across Paris.

With the referendum on e-scooters in Paris deciding in favour of a ban on scooters for hire, I knew this would probably be my last chance to cross the City of Light from the Eurostar terminal at Gare du Nord to my connection at Gare Montparnasse.

I downloaded the Tier app while on Eurostar and could see on the map a huddle of scooters at Saint-Vincent-de-Paul which is just around the corner from Gare du Nord.

Within 5 minutes of stepping off the train, I was ready to roll.

I've done the route before on foot. I like walking across Paris. The sights, sounds and smells from a cross-section of the world's most stereotyped and stereotypical cities is the perfect way to bookend any journey to the continent.

The first problem I hit was steps I hadn't thought twice about them when I was on two legs, but now incumbered with a pair of wheels, I developed a deep empathy with Daleks.

E-scooters are not allowed on pavements and the best approach to scooting around Paris is to use the cycle lanes.

Cycling or scooting to Montparnasse still relies on going down the busy Boulevard de Sébastopol where the cycle lane protection consists of white paint. In a city renowned for its anarchic drivers, I decided to stick to the back streets.

Quietly and effortlessly gliding down Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis felt great. Cyclists were soon overtaking me and I sped up to tail behind one of them - I was now in a peloton heading down to the Seine.

And then I realised that I and my little pack were going down a narrow one-way street and judging by the van coming towards us, the wrong way.

It's not in my nature to play chicken with van-drivers, so I left my peloton and made for a safer route.

As I approached Les Halles, I wended my way around the pedestrian area and then onto Pont Saint Michelle and time for a quick pic with Notre Dame.

It's uphill from the Seine to Montparnasse, so e-scooting is both practical and fun, but it also means missing out on the idle pleasure of a wander through Luxembourg Gardens and Montparnasse Cemetery. With plenty of time before my train was due, I decided to ditch my wheels.

I can see why e-scooters are contentious. They are quick, silent and much of Paris is made up of narrow busy streets. But if you plan out where you want to go and stick to the dedicated cycle lanes, they are a fun way to cover large distances, saving your legs for the special parts of town.

So, would I scoot again if the Parisians decide in the future to say Oui? Of course I will.

Practical Info:

Scooter hire companies in Paris - operational until September 2023:

• Tier: https://www.tier.app

• Lime: https://www.li.me

I got my map which is produced by the Marie de Paris from: https://www.freewheelingfrance.com