Usain Bolt Launches Electronic Scooter Service in Paris
QUEST: I can't beat Usain Bolt in a foot race, but this makes it a fair race. It is the QUEST MEANS BUSINESS e-scooter. Now, Bolt is also hopping on the craze for electric scooters. He's the co-founder of Bolt Mobility which is making its international launch in Paris today. But the 8 times Olympic champion has some fierce competition if he is going to out-run those who are already into the market. For instance, Lime has a hundred-plus different cities, from San Diego to Sidney. University Hubs from Georgetown in D.C. to the University of Nevada and Spain. Let's take Bird. Bird also is in a hundred-plus cities, mainly in North America, Europe and of course in Tel Aviv also targeting university towns. So the battle is clearly on in the e-scooter race. Which is why Anna Stewart has been finding out a little bit more about all of this and has been speaking to Usain Bolt in Paris. What have you learned from this investigation?</s>ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Well, I have yet to actually challenge him to a race, Richard, but it is a really crowded space, particularly in the U.S. as you said, but also here in Paris, Lime's made headways in here. We've also got key -- but if you go onto one of those apps like city map where they integrate your whole transport from A to B, some of those scooter apps are already a part of that. So launching here is a pretty big risk. But I asked Usain Bolt, I asked him, what makes your e-scooter any different to the others? Take a listen?</s>USAIN BOLT, OLYMPIC CHAMPION: When I go shopping, we have a storage area for your bags, especially for the ladies. And I mean, if you're having a bag, you have a scooter, you don't want to have a gun in your shoulder, you can place it in the area. And then we have a place for your phone, you know, I mean, for just the GPS because most people have their phones in their hands and they're listening to the GPS and struggling. So -- and then people who drink coffee, I'm not a coffee person, so I'd a water, so we have a storage area. So we try to think of things that wouldn't -- people consumers would really like and much easier.</s>STEWART: Paris is now talking about banning e-scooters from pavements, sidewalks in September. In London, you're actually not allowed to ride them on the pavement or on the road. So, how is this business going to flourish if no one can ride them?</s>SARAH HAYNES, CO-CEO & CHAIRWOMAN, BOLT MOBILITY: We're investors in Uber and Piperloop(ph), Virgin Hyperloop One, so we have a lot of experience and we've learned best practices of how to be able to work with city officials who works with us, and we have been really good citizens in the markets that we were -- we have launched in, for example, Fort Lauderdale. We are able to geo for instance certain areas for Spring break when there's big crowds coming or there's a festival, we can --</s>STEWART: And governments there in Europe, are you speaking directly to them, to the French government, to the British government.</s>HAYNES: Absolutely, we are actually meeting with city officials today to sign an agreement to be good citizens and good actors in France, and that's really important for us as a company.</s>STEWART: A lot of people I've spoken to, and I've said that I'm meeting you, I'm going to be talking about your e-scooter, say scooters are for kids, they're not cool --</s>BOLT: No, these are grown-up, these are solid. We're talking about trying to get from place to place. You know what I mean, who's thinking about looking cool? We're trying to be efficient. I'm not saying it's not cool. But you're not thinking about that at the moment, I'm trying to get to the doctors right now, I'm trying to get out of this traffic jam, I'm not worried about that, this is what I'm focused on. How I'm going to be safe, how I'm going to get there on time. Come on, if I'm doing something, it's going to be cool.</s>STEWART: This is not just a solution in terms of transport getting from A to B, this is also environmentally friendly. And is that something, Usain, you think cities should be taking into account more?</s>BOLT: For sure, for sure. If you show the years -- even in London, you guys have so much taxes or congestion, taxes because of these problems. Because they're trying to get less cars in the cities. So for me, this is a big solution. This is what I'm talking about that we need to make a different -- to make changes. I'm a part of many charities. I try to do a lot of work with different charities just to help the environment in many ways. And for me to be a part of this company, to be a co-founder of this company and to help the environment is a big deal for me.</s>STEWART: Usain, how fast can it go?</s>BOLT: Not faster than me, so that's a good sign.</s>STEWART: That can still be pretty fast --</s>BOLT: That's a good -- that's a good -- that's a good sign.</s>QUEST: All right, Anna Stewart, Anna Stewart, I'm not -- I'm a sort of safe user of these things. I don't go very fast around the studio here, how good are you on them?</s>STEWART: Well, Richard, it's not particularly fair because I'm wearing high heels. But I think considering that, and guess we have to, a bit of a kick-start with this one in particular, I think I'm pretty good, but I've got a slightly terrifying ordeal tomorrow, I'm actually going on stage with Usain Bolt at the Viva Tech Conference in Paris. And we're coming on stage with a scooter. And I'm slightly worried I'll fall flat on my face. By also secretly, the competitive edge of me, I want to beat him.</s>QUEST: You're barking mad. I assume you're practicing on this. Have you ever actually ridden one?</s>STEWART: I literally just had a go, Richard, and I'm editing something together for you, you're going to love it. You know what? Elon Musk said that the e-scooter or the scooter generally lacks dignity. And I haven't yet made up my mind. I'd love to know what you think. Can you -- can you make the e-scooter look cool? Usain Bolt says it is.</s>QUEST: One of our colleagues rides it to work every day. Look, the real problem is that it's illegal in many countries -- in many cities. The places where you most need it, you can't use it. Yet, that -- but people still do. I don't see much enforcement.</s>STEWART: I mean, this is the big issue, and frankly, they're launching here in Paris out of all of the cities --</s>QUEST: Right --</s>STEWART: In Europe. But Paris is going to ban e-scooters from the pavement. You can't ride it anywhere in London --</s>QUEST: Right --</s>STEWART: And you don't -- they're talking to cities, they're talking to governments, but there isn't a solution yet, Richard --</s>QUEST: Right, Anna Stewart, thank you, we look forward to seeing your pictures tomorrow. Give it a good kick before you start. This is really a lot of fun.</s>STEWART: I will --</s>QUEST: Watch out. Here we go. A last look at the markets before we leave you today. Up 143 on the Dow, only 3 down, JPMorgan, Wal-Mart and another one which I couldn't see as I passed by. We'll have our profitable moment, watch out for the Jeep after the break.