A City of New Westminster resolution endorsed at the UBCM convention says B.C. should conclude the Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Program and move toward province-wide regulation, data collection and education.
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The B.C. government should conclude the Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Program and establish province-wide regulations and education programs for safe use of electric kick scooters on public highways, according to an endorsed resolution put forward by the City of New Westminster at the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention.
The resolution said there is growing concern about electric kick scooters, but also noted that the devices will likely continue to be a preferred mode of transportation in municipalities regardless of whether they participate in the provincial pilot program.
It also pointed to uncertainty and inconsistent public information about safety implications of use, and said regulation and enforcement of electric kick scooters vary between municipalities.
The resolution further said there is a lack of province-wide safety data collection and education programs.
UBCM’s resolutions committee said it is aware that electric kick scooters are permitted on certain highways outside of municipal boundaries, treaty First Nation lands or Nisg̱a’a Lands, and set out conditions for their operation.
According to the resolution, the highway must have a cycle lane, and electric kick scooters must be ridden in the cycle lane and not anywhere else on the road or shoulder, including on sidewalks or in crosswalks.
The resolution said electric kick scooters are currently only allowed in several B.C. communities participating in the provincial pilot program, and that Delta is not one of them.
It also states that riders must be at least 16 years old to operate an electric kick scooter and can only ride in an area where it is allowed, and that a licence or insurance is not required.
The resolution notes that at least some device requirements also apply.
The issue has been a road safety focus in Delta as well, with scooter enforcement discussed at a recent Delta Police Board meeting.
At that meeting, it was noted that over the summer the department’s traffic section, along with regular patrol, took on an enforcement project for mobility devices on weekends when there is increased usage.
The department reported issuing 35 violation tickets and verbal warnings, and said it also conducted internal training with frontline staff to help officers understand which devices are allowed, including age restrictions and other factors.
Delta School District says electric scooters are banned from school property and should not be used by students commuting to and from school.
The UBCM resolutions committee also endorsed a separate resolution on electric dirt bikes.
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