Council green lights e-scooter extension with fines for parents, request province-wide regulations

An electric kick scooter. (File)

London will continue participating in a provincial pilot program that permits electric kick scooter riders to use roads, pathways, and bike lanes.

The extension includes commitments to more education, proactive enforcement that can hold parents responsible for underage riders, and lobbying the provincial government to speed-up assessment of the pilot project and bring forward Ontario-wide regulations for the mobility devices.

However, several councillors acknowledged receiving complaints about some e-scooter riders behaving recklessly.

“It seems somewhat like a toy, but we’re talking about a motorized vehicle,” said Coun. Paul Van Meergergen, who renewed his opposition to the pilot program. “We’re talking about real life injuries, real life chances of, God forbid, death.”

A staff report summarized the number of collisions and injuries involving e-scooters in London last year including eight collisions reported to London police, 193 injuries reported at local hospitals, and 34 hospital stays.

Coun. Skylar Franke responded, “We do not respond to roadway safety concerns by banning cars or asking the province to remove them. We improve infrastructure, education, [and] enforcement. I think we need the same balanced approach.”

“I know there’s lots of e-scooter riders who follow the rules, but there’s lots who don’t,” said Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis.

“To me, this is one of the most slapdash programs the province has brought forward to municipalities,” Lewis added. “And that’s saying a lot with this provincial government, because it’s not the first time. And almost 10 years by the time it’s done, that’s not a pilot project, that’s downloading by stealth by the province to municipalities.”

Coun. Hadleigh McAlister amended the motion to include advocacy through the Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM) and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) to speed-up assessment of the pilot program and bring forward legislative changes.

“I think it’s on the province to actually come forward with rules and regulations to actually give people something to follow, and not just strip it away from them,” McAlister explained.

Council voted 11-4 in favour of extending London’s participation in the provincial pilot program.

The approval included launching an education campaign, proactive enforcement, and a new $100 fine for the parents of underage riders.

Under the current pilot program, e-scooters will continue to be permitted on London roads with a speed limit below 50km/h, in bike lanes, and on multi-use pathways.

The mobility devices may not travel over 24km/h.

Riders must be at least 16 years old, and those under 18 must wear a helmet.

Last November, council delayed its decision about the future of e-scooters until public feedback could be collected.

According to the staff report, 650 feedback forms were received, with 22 per cent of respondents having a negative view of e-scooters, 29 per cent having a positive view, and almost half feeling ‘neutral.’

The provincial pilot program is scheduled to end on Nov. 27, 2029.