E-scooters could be making a comeback in Toronto
Posted June 28, 2023 8:55 pm.
Last Updated June 28, 2023 9:04 pm.
While disability advocates argue that e-scooters pose dangers, others believe there are ways to make them safer.
On Wednesday, city councillors on the Infrastructure and Environment Committee voted 4-2 on a motion to direct Toronto’s general manager of transportation services to form a city-wide pilot project that would be integrated with the city’s BikeShare program beginning next summer.
Ward 11 city councillor Diane Saxe (University-Rosedale) said she’s prepared to work with the city to ensure an e-scooter program is brought to life.
“This will require e-scooters to have sidewalk prevention technology, and they can only be parked in specific corral areas, which can never be on the sidewalk and that has worked in the past,” said Saxe.
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On May 1, 2021, Toronto city council voted unanimously to opt out of the province’s e-scooter pilot.
Currently, e-scooters, considered standing electric kick-scooters, are not allowed to be operated, left, stored or parked on any public street in Toronto. This includes bicycle lanes, cycle tracks, trails, paths, sidewalks or parks under multiple Municipal Code Chapters.
In April, Toronto Police Const. Sean Shapiro was featured in a TikTok explaining that officers consider e-scooters that travel faster than 24 km/h a motorcycle and, therefore, they must be registered as such. If not, the rider could face a hefty fine of up to $25,000.
“Because it’s a motorcycle or requires a motorcycle licence, and requires a registration and plate, it also requires insurance,” Const. Shapiro said.
“This means this person on first conviction could get fines from $5,000 to $25,000 and get six months in jail. Not worth it.”
The matter of e-scooters will be held off until the next major city council meeting on July 19, which marks the first time Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow can vote, and decisions are made on her watch.
Chow, it should be noted, does not possess a driver’s licence and is a known advocate of biking and cycling.
With files from Mark McAllister of CityNews
