Bonfire of the exploding e-bikes as toxic smoke spreads across French protests

As violent protests rock France, one of the iconic sights of the unrest has become burning bikes.The sight of electric bikes burning has become common during the unrest across France and elsewhere in Europe.E-bikes often use lithium-ion batteries, which can ​ignite and produce intense fires that spread rapidly and produce toxic smoke.In Paris, black smoke and flames rose over piles of the e-bikes at the weekend. Elsewhere in ⁠the city, a protester threw an e-bike onto ​a ⁠burning car.Ahead of the demonstrations, Lime ⁠said it worked with police to remove vehicles from designated protest routes and restricted parking and riding in several high-risk areas, adjusting those measures over the weekend as the situation evolved.A barricade of electric bikes on fire on Boulevard Saint Denis, with the vandalised Normal shop in the background, which is being looted by rioters, Demonstration against the high cost of living and the deterioration of public services in Paris, France on October 17, 2026 (AFP/Getty)Shared-mobility operator Dott said on Monday that about 300 of its electric bikes were destroyed and ⁠120 severely damaged in Paris during the nationwide protests on Saturday, which ​turned ⁠violent in several cities. It ‌has 6,000 bikes in the city.The company also said 80 vehicles, including bikes and scooters, were destroyed in Bordeaux and 30 to 40 scooters in Lyon. ‌It estimated the damage at around €400,000 ($450,000).About 2,400 people were arrested over the weekend, and authorities said thousands of businesses were damaged or looted. The rioting overshadowed demonstrations against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools in which hundreds of thousands of people marched peacefully.Lime said ‌some of its shared bicycles and scooters in Paris were destroyed or damaged during the protests, with the company losing about 6% of its Paris fleet.A group of police officers is facing rioters and looters; a barricade of burning electric bikes, whose batteries are exploding with flames shooting high into the air (AFP/Getty)Smovengo, operator of the Vélib' Métropole bike-sharing service in Paris, said some 300 bikes from its fleet of around 20,000 were damaged or stolen during the weekend unrest. Its bikes are docked rather ‌than parked on pavements.There ‌was no indication that e-bike ⁠operators were specifically targeted during the protests over the cost of living ⁠and underfunded public services that have descended into riots and looting.However, with thousands of bicycles available ‌across Paris streets and ​docking stations, they proved readily accessible ‌to protesters, with many used to build ​barricades or set on fire.Macron vows to take an 'uncompromising' stanceMacron vowed that the government would take an "uncompromising" stance against rioters, adding that the government's regional representatives known as prefects would use whatever measures were needed to protect businesses and public buildings, including banning certain gatherings if needed.A fire burns, as Police officers in riot gear stand guard, during civil unrest, the day after a national day of demonstrations against the cost of living and rising fuel prices, in Paris, France (Reuters)Macron also ordered an investigation into failures in intelligence gathering and planning that may have led authorities to underestimate the potential for violence.Authorities decided to impose localized curfews when necessary. That included an overnight curfew to take effect Monday evening in two areas in Paris that have been affected by the violence.About 2,400 people were arrested Saturday across France, including 855 in the Paris area, 101 in Marseille and 199 in Lyon, authorities said.In the capital region, the arrests resulted in 557 people being placed in police custody, 78% of them adults, Paris prosecutors said.In Limoges, fire nearly destroyed the 19th century city hall.Most criminal cases involve property damage, participation in groups formed with the intent to commit violence and assault on police officers, according to prosecutors.