Ho Ho No! City warns against gifting e-scooters to young kids this holiday season

A warning from city hall about potential dangers with e-scooters, and the rules for who is allowed to ride them. CTV London’s Daryl Newcombe reports.

Santa Claus should leave e-scooters at the north pole, unless the Londoners on his nice list are at least 16 years old.

On Monday, the Community and Protective Services (CAPS) Committee was told city staff are planning an education campaign about the city’s rules for operating e-scooters.

“[It’s] very important that as we gear up for the holiday season, that we [advise] these are not suitable for children,” said Shawna Chambers, director of Climate Change, Environment & Waste Management.

Chambers explained that the City aims to educate parents about the rules governing London’s e-scooter pilot project.

Currently, the by-law requires that e-scooter riders:

• be at least 16 years old
• wear a helmet if they are 16 or 17 years old
• obey a speed limit of 24 km/h
• travel streets with a speed limit at or below 50 km/h, multi-use pathways, and bike lanes
• avoid sidewalks, hiking trails, Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs)

Chambers also explained, “In partnership with [Civic Administration], London police have prepared a flyer and they’ve reached out to the school boards, both the public and Catholic school boards, to send out this flyer to parents.”

“I think there’s a number of parents that do not realize that below the age 16, they’re not allowed to drive a scooter. I see many young people driving scooters,” said Coun. Anna Hopkins.

Meanwhile, council must still decide if London will extend the pilot project permitting the use of e-scooters for another year.

Several councillors expressed frustration about excessive speed and reckless behaviour by some e-scooter riders.

“I do get a number of complaints from people, especially on the TVP (Thames Valley Parkway),” Coun. Hadleigh McAlister told colleagues on the CAPS Committee.

Coun. Corrine Rahman said she asked for increased enforcement in the Fox Field and White Hills neighbourhoods this past summer, “We had police out multiple times and the concerns were also shared with by-law [officers], however, even though those concerns were shared we still saw persisting issues into the fall.”

“We have heard loud and clear that this is a priority for the public, and that’s why we’re working so closely with our police partners and with the Middlesex Road Safety Committee,” said Amanda Pfeffer, director of Compliance.

The province’s e-scooter pilot project was set to expire this winter but has been extended until Nov. 27, 2029.

In 2023, London chose to participate by permitting personal e-scooters but not allow the rentable e-scooter fleets operated by private companies.

City staff now recommend extending the pilot project for one year, to allow for the collection of data including utilization, compliance, and collisions.

The data would be provided to council if it considers an additional one-year extension in late 2026.

“My preference, of course, would be to stay the course and ensure we’re aligned with the province and with other municipalities,” said Kelly Scherr, deputy city manager, Environment and Infrastructure.

In March 2026, staff would provide data gathered in 2025 about e-scooter engagement and enforcement.

Council will consider the future of its e-scooter pilot project at its meeting on November 25.