I expect to be in Paris, May 2010, and am foot-challenged. I was thinking about renting a scooter to help me get around instead of all the walking- in addition to using the metro and buses. Does anyone here have any insights into this? is it possible?

While I often ride a scooter at home in England I would not be happy riding one in Paris! I've driven a car in Paris, but would not consider a scooter.

But there are bicycles for hire all over the place, and many people use these. There are designated bicycle lanes on many roads, and I would think it much safer to be on one. Two places I saw ranks of these cycles were by the Hotel du Nord at the Canal St Martin and by the Hotel de Ville just up from the Seine. There were others but I'm not sure where I saw them.

But on my last visit I used the buses a lot, it is a great way to get around and see the city - there are some wonderful interactive maps on the ratp website, and there have been some very helpful threads here about using the Paris buses.

Velib is certainly cheap if you want to experiment with push bikes, but you'd need either an acceptable credit card to buy in the machines on the spot, or you'd need to set up a subscription online before you leave. And you'd also need a good map showing where the Velib stations are, so you can plan where to drop the bike within the free half-hour, and (as you would with a scooter) all the one-way systems, which can be really annoying until you get used to it (I've got a pocket size booklet costing about €6).

http://www.en.velib.paris.fr/comment_ca_marche

and
http://www.en.velib.paris.fr/index.p...t_courte_duree

Hi dd,

Paris, Rome and Naples are not places to learn to drive a scooter.

When we last went to Paris with my moter (90 yrs old), we made a point of stopping every 20 min, or so, for a rest.

You could also spring for the occasional cab.

I use an electric scooter when I travel. Battery powered. Lasts about 8 hours per charge. If I get low on power, I stop a a Brassarrie or restaurant and plug it in while I have a coffee or lunch or dinner. MOST bus lines have handicapped ramps to load a scooter with. Some do not, so get a bus map and look at the route. It will have a wheelchair symbol if it is handicapped ramped. We rode the bus all over Paris. Bus better than subway. We get to see Paris as we ride by.

Merci to all. Points well taken. Maybe if I just ride the bus/metro to my destination and appeal for a wheelchair at my destination, might be safer and easier. I'll get a copy of a handicap badge to use if needed.

Don't rent a scooter.

If you are "foot challenged" keep in mind that riding the metro often involves plenty of walking up and down stairs and through connecting passages. Since we first tried riding the bus in Paris we do that much more than the metro, and enjoy it because we get to see the scenery en route. The bus map can be a bit daunting at first because there are so many more lines than the metro but don't be scared off. Good overview is http://tinyurl.com/2lelfh

I think some people thought you mean a motorbike scooter - not a mobility scooter.

The Metro is not great - lots of stairs and long passageways. Agree that the bus is your friend, perhaps supplemented by cabs where necessary.

If you look at the websites of the places you plan to visit you will see which are accessible by wheelchair (and which have them available). Unfortunately europe lags far behind the US in this area - at lest in part since so many of the buildings are so old that retrofitting would be a huge and sometimes impossible undertaking.

I do not know your income level, but they make a small, battery powered (I have one) scooter that the I use all the time when traveling. It needs to colapse a bit and have dry cell batteries that detach, per airline regulations. It is wonderful in getting around the airport and to and from the plane. Some airlines require notice, some do not. Read their website to find out. By folding a bit, I can put it in a cab in a pinch. You will need a plug converter from US to French. The charger should run on 220 just fine. Read the info. on the charger to make sure. It is a lot easier to take your own than to rely on a place having a scooter/wheelchair available when you need it. Most are not powered, if they have one, so you or someone must push it. Look on ebay for a scooter. Also, your local full service drug store might be of assistance. Just get a small one and try to get one that has at least 10 miles or 10 hours run time. You will still need to stop and smell the roses and recharge at times. Cafe's and Brassaries and Restaurants work well for this. If I can help more, email me: [email protected]

Thank you for all the thoughtful replies. I actually was thinking of a moped kind of thing. A small motor bike. I did Paris last year for the first time and my feet were in a bad way. It won't stop me- I'll request better drugs (and keep them in the original containers.) ;^)