Notre Dame de Vitesse Électrique

Artist's rendering of Electric Scooter Nun, 7th Arr.

While riding in the bike lane one cold morning earlier this week, I was delighted to see a nun on a trottinette électrique (electric scooter) shooting past me in the other direction. Safety considerations left no chance for a photo, but it seemed important that I capture the fleeting image somehow. Hence the cartoon scribbles.

Except for the sneakers, Dirty Harry glasses, RBG lace collar, and the flying cross, I think it's a pretty accurate likeness. Not sure why she's wearing a cape in the drawing, though. And the tower is pretty badly done--nor is it on a hill.

The important thing is that the list of Things I've Never Seen Nuns Doing is now smaller by one.

Last April, Paris held a referendum on whether scooter-share companies such as Dott and Lime would have to remove their trottinettes from all public streets. Only about 8% of eligible voters turned out, but they voted against the scooter companies by 90%. By the end of August, all the shared trottinettes were gone.

To that I say "good riddance." But it also means at least two things. First, only about 7% of voters were able to get shared scooters banned from Paris--the first European city to do so.

Second, our sister either has her own personal ride, or there are community trottinettes shared between several nuns. I prefer the latter explanation. It seems more in keeping with what I imagine are the principles of convent life and boosts the odds that there will be more nuns tooling around town electrically. Next time I'll be ready.