Link scooters (rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

Traffic Bylaw Amendments: First reading

City council questions age requirement for E-scooter riders

Feb 15, 2022 | 10:02 AM

Red Deer city council was left with some unanswered questions after giving first reading to Traffic Bylaw amendments for Season 2 of the E-Scooter pilot program.

Last summer, e-scooters rolled into Red Deer for the first season of a three-season pilot program. In November 2021, the city surveyed 1,700 residents, stakeholders and the e-scooter companies on what they thought of having e-scooters in the community.

While the minimum age requirement to ride is 18 years old, most riders were noted to be far younger. This, along with poor rider etiquette and unsafe parking were the top three concerns rated.

“The target for season one of the program was to educate users on how to ride safely throughout our city,” said Amy Fengstad, Parking and Licensing Supervisor. “In the next season of the pilot program we hope to enhance opportunities for users to learn the rules and regulations.”

Traffic Bylaw amendments proposed for rule enforcement include fines of $60 among others. Councillor Vesna Higham, however, was not convinced.

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“The challenge for me is why we are restricting to those under 18, not allowed technically under the bylaw, and yet anecdotally, and really in reality, what we saw on our streets, every single day through this pilot last summer and into the fall was kids under 18 were utilizing it,” said Councillor Higham.

She gave examples of how in Alberta, a 12-year-old can ride a motorized bike, a 14-year-old can drive with a learner’s permit, and a 16-year-old can drive a car and fly a plane on their own. Not only questioning the logic of a mandatory scooter-riding age of 18, she also described it as a problem of “hypocrisy” to have rules that are clearly not enforced.

She instead proposed an amendment to reduce the minimum age requirement to 14 years old with riders under 18 required to wear a helmet for safety concerns.

On the other hand, most of the feedback on the project was positive. The top three benefits of having e-scooters in the community were identified as bringing more people to the downtown, having great e-scooter companies to work with and that they were just fun to use to get residents outside more.

“What we heard loud and clear was that e-scooters were fun, engaging and a success for our community. Not only did it add to the quality of life of our residents, but it also boosted our local and downtown economy, and was successful for the e-scooter companies that chose to set up shop in our city,” said Fengstad. “We are thankful Red Deerians embraced this new program and are excited to bring them back this summer.”

For the first season, Neuron, Bird, Link, Spin, and Roll launched in Red Deer in July, with Lime joining in August. All e-scooter companies have reported they will return to Red Deer for the next season. Based on the feedback received, season two of the pilot program will keep the pilot open to all companies and no caps on the number of e-scooters.

“Red Deer is now their third largest market in the country which is pretty incredible when you look at it,” said Mayor Ken Johnston.

Should the program be adopted on a more permanent basis, the City says it will explore options to add signage on the parks and trails system to identify sharp corners or blind spots for e-scooter users.

E-scooters are expected to return Mar. 15 for the second summer pilot.

For more details on the survey results, visit www.reddeer.ca/escooters.

The Traffic Bylaw amendments will return to council for second and third reading at the Monday, Feb. 28 council meeting.