Safety paramount as NL towns grapple with e-scooter usage

As the number of e-scooter and e-bike accidents rise, NL towns are struggling with regulations, government looking at new rules

Before making any decision on whether his son could get an electronic scooter, Nicholas Lawlor made sure he understood the risks. The Conception Bay South man spoke with the 10-year-old at length about the worst that could happen while operating one on the road. That included going over any safety item Lawlor could find, including new ones that come out in the media.

“I spoke to my son about the dangers of the road and how fast accidents can happen,” said Lawlor. “He has wanted one from the beginning of the summer but only received his on Tuesday past.” Still, any usage comes with strict guidelines for the family, including not taking it on the road and only using sidewalks or the area in front of his mother’s house, which is on a dead-end street.

“The scooter wasn’t happening unless he understood the rules and stuck to them,” said Lawlor. More on the roads This summer, the use of e-scooters and e-bikes on public roads across the province has been a hot topic for many people, including the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC), which has seen an uptick in the number of incidents involving electric vehicles. Since Canada Day, the RNC has responded to incidents involving e-scooters in Mount Pearl, Corner Brook and, most recently, Paradise.

“We have responded to a couple of serious injuries that have been related to e-scooter operation with youths,” said Const. Stephanie Myers. “Again, we ask that the parents and the guardians make sure to educate the kids.”

As those incidents have increased, the calls for further regulations from the public have naturally increased. They range from restricting how fast the machines can go to where they can go and how old someone has to be to use them. There have also been suggestions to make them safer, like having adult supervision depending on your age, mandatory training akin to a driver’s licence and a host of other suggestions.

For the RNC, all of those are important. “We just want to make sure that everybody’s safe, and we use them responsibly,” said Myers. What are the regulations?

As it stands, those vehicles are limited to 500 watts and a top speed of 32 kilometres per hour as per federal regulation. In this province, e-scooters fall under the jurisdiction of the Highway Traffic Act, along with any municipal bylaws that cover them locally. Those regulations include wearing a helmet and not using them to transport more than one person.

Municipalities can also limit the use of electric vehicles on their trailways or pathways. The RNC suggests that parents and guardians also speak with their children about safe and responsible use and make sure they follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for their specific device to ensure proper use. “We still just want to make the public aware, like purchasers and riders aware of the capabilities of the machines and make sure that they understand them before either operating them themselves or providing them to a youth,” said Myers.

What are municipalities saying? When it comes to e-scooters and e-bikes, municipalities are playing catch-up when it comes to regulating those vehicles. In a recent council meeting late last month, councillors in Mount Pearl wrestled with the issue around both e-scooters and e-bikes, noting that they’ve seen examples of dangerous use in the city recently.

The discussion included the possibility of an outright ban or ways to make it safer moving forward. “I think part of it is we need to put the accountability back on the people who are buying these bikes for the youth,” said Coun. Chelsea Lane during the meeting.

“If you’re going to buy your child something that can go 30 to 50 kilometres an hour, then I do feel that it’s your responsibility to teach them to use it responsibly and safely.” She also noted that the provincial government has to take some responsibility as well with its regulations. At the end of the discussion, staff were directed to review potential regulations in Mount Pearl.

Grand Falls-Windsor is doing something similar. Other municipalities, like Gander, have taken to social media to remind residents to be safe while using the vehicles and others have made sure they aren’t allowed on community trails. This is in addition to the work being done by Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador, which pledged to lobby government to amend the highway act to further regulate e-scooters and e-bikes.

What about St. John’s? In the capital city, staff has met with the provincial government about the need for a defined set of regulations for the use of e-bikes and e-scooters. However, St. John’s does not have any specific regulations for them.

“Within the City of St. John’s parks by-laws, there are regulations with regards to using bicycles and/or motorized vehicles in parks or on trailways; however, there is nothing specific to electric scooters or bikes,” wrote a city spokesperson. “It should be noted we are reviewing by-laws as we continue to develop more shared-use paths throughout the city.” Working on updating the act In a prepared statement, NL Government Services Minister Mike Goosney said the province is working to update its regulations around what he calls micro-mobility vehicles.

That includes e-scooters and e-bikes, and he said it’s something he’s been hearing plenty about since taking over the department. “We have been working with other jurisdictions and safety partners to determine the best approach to regulating these vehicles,” wrote Goosney. “While micro-mobility vehicles are not currently addressed in the Highway Traffic Act, the process for potential legislative changes has started to support safer roads and communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Trust in his child Every time his child grabs his scooter, Lawlor worries about what might happen. However, he trusts him to use the information he’s given him to make the right decision at the right time. “I worry every day about my children’s well-being, but I trust I have instilled the knowledge to keep them safe while out and about,” said Lawlor.