Nova Scotia to ban children under 14 from e‑bike and e‑scooter use

Nova Scotia’s public works minister, Fred Tilley, announced that the province will prohibit children under 14 from riding electric bicycles and scooters. The restriction is part of a suite of amendments to the province’s Traffic Safety Act that will take effect this fall.

The move follows a rise in e‑scooter injuries across Canada, with 498 hospitalisations recorded in 2023‑2024 – a 32 % increase from the previous year, especially among youths aged five to 17. Parachute Canada director Stephanie Cowle warned that high‑speed devices can reach up to 70 km/h and that existing regulations do not limit purchase speeds. Other provinces have introduced helmet rules, speed caps and licensing for faster devices, and Nova Scotia is joining those safety efforts.