Municipalities face regulatory challenges over e-bikes and e-scooters

Municipalities in Canada are facing challenges regarding the regulation and safety of e-bikes and e-scooters. In Amherstburg, the town council passed motions to improve safety and discourage improper behavior following reports of accidents involving underage riders and vandalism in local parks. Councillor Molly Allaire requested that the Windsor Police Service monitor King’s Navy Yard Park and Pat Thrasher Park, noting that new signage prohibits e-bikes in certain areas and mandates helmets.

In Fredericton, the sudden arrival of app-based rental e-scooters operated by the company Move has caught local officials by surprise. The city currently lacks specific bylaws to regulate where these scooters can be ridden or parked. While the company uses GPS boundaries to manage speed and zones, the mobility committee noted that enforcement of safety measures, such as helmet use, remains a personal responsibility for riders. Officials may look to neighboring communities like Moncton and Saint John for regulatory guidance if the service continues.