Since Monday, September 28th, helmets and reflective gear are now mandatory for riding electric scooters in the Rhône region and the Lyon Metropolitan area. This measure, decided by a decree from the Rhône prefect Étienne Guyot, also applies to gyropods, monowheels, and hoverboards. Time to give the perfect Lyon scooter rider's outfit a little makeover!
This new requirement comes as accidents involving these devices are surging in the Rhône. Between 2021 and 2025, 870 injury-related accidents were recorded, resulting in 840 injured people and 11 deaths. In 2025, their number increased by over 44% in a year, and since the beginning of 2026, 187 accidents, 194 injured, and two deaths have already been registered.
Sometimes very serious accidents
In Lyon, the Hospices Civils are also raising the alarm about the severity of injuries linked to electric scooters. At Femme Mother
Child, doctors observe cranial or abdominal trauma, fractures, and sometimes severe injuries. Since April 2026, the emergency department has been receiving approximately twenty young victims per month, with nearly a quarter requiring direct admission to pediatric intensive care.A study by HCL also shows that cases requiring neurosurgical consultation increased from one in 2021 to 25 in 2025. Healthcare professionals particularly emphasize the aggravating role of not wearing a helmet, since scooter falls can cause trauma comparable to those observed in motorized two-wheeler accidents.
An awareness period before enforcement
The change is immediate, but authorities are first betting on education before moving to strict controls. An initial awareness campaign was actually organized in Lyon on September 28, notably to inform users of this new regulationIn the long run, violations will be ticketed.
For regular users of free-floating scooters in Lyon, one very practical question remains: where can you find your helmet and safety vest before heading off? A new routine to work into your schedule before zipping off on Lyon's bike paths… and probably the only trip where forgetting your helmet risks now costing you more than expected.