While electric scooters haven’t yet been spotted zipping along Moose Jaw’s pothole-filled streets, city hall is preparing legislatively to ensure it’s ready when residents start using such devices.
During its June 12 regular meeting, city council voted 4-2 to consider an amendment to Bylaw No. 5695 (Traffic Bylaw) to allow e-scooters on municipal pathways at its next meeting. The updated bylaw would allow for “electric kick scooters” under the provincial The Limited Speed Motor Vehicle Regulations.
Councillors Jamey Logan and Heather Eby were opposed, while Mayor Clive Tolley was absent.
The bylaw would permit residents to operate an e-scooter on roads with speed limits under 50 kilometres per hour; restrict the device’s operation to align with provincial regulations, including driving no faster than 24 km/h, wearing a helmet, being 16 years of age, not carrying passengers, and not hauling anything; and create offences for users who do not comply with the Traffic Bylaw.
Saskatoon and Regina are the only two Saskatchewan cities that allow e-scooters, a council report said.
The Bridge City only permits people to use rented e-scooters from companies with which the city has partnered. That city plans to consider allowing private e-scooters in 2024 after city hall evaluates the results of the pilot program.
Saskatoon has also aligned its restrictions on e-scooter use with provincial regulations and allows the devices on city pathways.
The Queen City has amended its traffic bylaw to allow for private e-scooter use and created a framework for a shared device program. Regina is looking for companies with which to partner, while it has also aligned its restrictions with provincial legislation and allows the devices on pathways.
Council discussion
Logan was concerned about whether e-scooter operators could use the devices in the evenings, while he also wondered whether city administration had contacted the police for comment.
“I guess it’s not a secret, (but) the roads around town aren’t perfect. If (people) start whizzing around on a scooter at 50 km/h and hit a pothole, I’m just worried about their safety,” he said.
Logan also pointed out that e-scooters can have a maximum of four wheels up to 430 millimetres (17 inches) in diameter and weigh roughly 55 kilograms (100 pounds), which concerned him since they would be zipping down paths around others.
The use of scooters at night could be addressed in the bylaw, while city hall has spoken with the Moose Jaw Police Service, said Andrew Svenson, city solicitor. The agency’s main concern was enforcement and other issues their colleagues elsewhere face.
Eby’s concern was about impaired people operating the e-scooters and injuring themselves. While using the devices was probably no more dangerous than riding a bicycle, she couldn’t support the motion until she knew whether provincial legislation banned impaired operators.
Coun. Dawn Luhning thought the municipality should allow e-scooter users to use pathways and couldn’t understand why council would say no. Her other concern was that the devices were limited to 24 km/h when she knew the devices could go faster — much faster.
While a private company wasn’t yet renting e-scooters here as they were throughout North America, she knew some cities were having trouble with renters being careless and dumping the machines wherever. Still, she thought that shouldn’t dissuade council from allowing them here.
“I think it is something we as a city need to adopt because people want those alternative uses for motorized transportation,” Luhning added.
Discussions about e-scooter use are occurring across Canada, so it’s positive that Moose Jaw is having this conversation, said Coun. Crystal Froese. She hoped users obeyed the rules of the road since they were sharing the streets with vehicles. Meanwhile, she didn’t think allowing e-scooters on pathways through Wakamow Valley would be safe since the trails are unpaved.
“This (bylaw amendment) is a good starting point. We can see if there are any complaints or issues we have around this,” she added. “I haven’t seen any e-scooters in our city yet … but I think we have to start somewhere.”
Coun. Doug Blanc is a commissioner on the police board and recalled discussing this issue with police executive members. While they have concerns about e-scooters, he noted they believe a bylaw would make their job easier to police the devices — if people followed the rules.
Blanc also thought residents should be allowed to use e-scooters on pathways since those trails are safer than on streets.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, June 26.
