Burnaby bans e-scooters on major roads

They’re fun to ride, affordable and environmentally friendly, but e-scooters are facing further scrutiny in some parts of the province, with Burnaby changing its bylaws this month to ban their use on major roads.

It means riding them on streets including Kingsway, Hastings and other major routes is no longer allowed.

“Our major roads, we would have transit, large vehicles, trucks, commercial vehicles – all kinds of traffic,” explained City of Burnaby director of engineering transportation Amy Choh during an interview with CTV News.

“These are the kinds of environments that are not necessarily conducive for people to use their e-scooter on the roadways, even if they’re riding as far right as possible.”

The only exception is if riders are using a bike lane or other multi-use pathway.

Under the bylaw change now in effect, riders are also not allowed to wear headphones or go on sidewalks unless a sign indicates otherwise.

The change comes after a crash on Hastings Street in North Burnaby earlier this month that left two children seriously injured.

At the time, B.C. Emergency Health Services said it was responding to a crash involving an e-scooter.

Burnaby’s bylaw change comes with a provincial e-scooter pilot project under way.

“We are halfway through that pilot project, which involves about 34 communities around the province of varying sizes,” Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth told CTV News on May 5. “And so the information from that will help determine what changes or regulations need to take place.”

Doctors have reported an uptick in e-scooter-related injuries, with 15 to 20 children treated on a daily basis at Surrey Memorial Hospital.