Grey County could join a growing chorus of municipalities urging the Ontario government to firm up its e-scooter regulations.
There is a correspondence on Grey County’s committee of the whole meeting agenda Thursday which outlines a resolution from the Town of Parry Sound calling on the province to “establish a province-wide regulatory framework for e-scooters that recognizes their unique operating characteristics, maintains appropriate safety standards, and provides municipalities with authority to address local needs.”
The Ontario government is currently undertaking an e-scooter pilot program, which sets out some basic requirements such as characteristics of permitted vehicles, helmet use, and a minimum operator age of 16.
However, municipalities must opt in to the province’s pilot to permit the use of e-scooters within their boundaries. They remain prohibited in municipalities that haven’t taken the active step to opt-in and pass bylaws concerning e-scooter use.
It is a little-known legal nuance that many e-scooter users could be unaware of: their use is not permitted in many municipalities.
The correspondence on Grey County’s agenda Thursday notes that e-scooters are becoming an increasingly popular and affordable form of transportation, but Ontario’s current pilot program creates administrative and enforcement challenges by placing the responsibility directly on municipalities.
There is no staff report to Grey County councillors regarding e-scooters, but Thursday’s meeting agenda includes text suggesting the correspondence “regarding a regulatory framework for e-scooters be supported by the County of Grey.”
Council has not yet passed a resolution to support that direction.