The speed of electric scooters disturbs Vancouverites

The general manager of West End Seniors’ NetworkMartin Addison, receives many comments and complaints related to electric scooters (e scooters in English) from the 850 members of its neighborhood seniors’ association west of downtown Vancouver.

Delivery people, in a hurry to make their deliveries, and tourists are usually the most problematic, he says.

[Les touristes] can be dangerous in traffic because they are inexperienced and don’t know where they are goingsays Martin Addison.

He himself is in favor of scooters because they allow, he believes, to replace car trips.

However, he notes that many users exceed the speed limit, which can be a problem on usually quiet streets, especially for elderly people with vision, hearing or mobility problems.

We don’t hear them comingsays Martin Addison.

Three-year pilot project

Last year, British Columbia implemented a three-year pilot project that allows the use of electric scooters in communities that want them. Currently, they are permitted in six municipalities: Vancouver, the District and City of North Vancouver, Richmond, Kelowna and Vernon.

These small vehicles can drive there on cycle paths and in neighborhood streets, at a maximum of 24 km/h.

I think they’re going a little too fastsays the Vancouver resident and member of the West End Seniors’ Network Don Ryan, who says he repeatedly noted that toddlers use the sidewalks, although it is prohibited.

I don’t know how the police can really [intervenir], he adds. They have many other things to do in Vancouver.

The Vancouver Police Department says it has no data on the number of tickets issued in connection with electric scooters since the launch of the pilot project in July 2021.

We prefer an educational approach to a penalization approachsays spokesman Steve Addison.

We tell our customers to respect the rulessays the co-founder of the scooter store Urban MachinaOlivia Yau. However, we have no control over them once they come out.

Mrs. Yau explains that the models sold at Urban Machina cannot drive faster than 24 km/h, but it is very simple for customers who want to modify the motor to exceed this speed.

There are lots of tips on YouTube for changing the [limite] of speedconfirms the owner of the bike shops Reckless Bike StoresPaul Dragan.

Improve display

Olivia Yau believes that the City should put up more posters on the streets and on bike paths announcing the regulations for scooter users. She also thinks that the different levels of government should carry out targeted awareness campaigns. The best way forward is educationshe believes.

According to her, due to their growing popularity among city dwellers, scooters are here to stay, and policymakers have a responsibility to put in place the right regulations.

[Les gens] want this new means of transportshe says.

The British Columbia Ministry of Transportation indicates that the communities in which the pilot projects are taking place must each submit a first annual report this summer.

These reports will help us with assessments conducted by our ministry, which will include input from the Ministry of Health, health authorities and the British Columbia Automobile Insurance Company. [ICBC]says a spokesperson.