Amendments updating Nanaimo’s traffic and highways bylaws will allow the city to regulate electric kick scooter use and impose fines for breaking the rules.
The bylaw updates were brought before city council at a special council meeting July 29. The updates were a response to a report that was brought before council earlier this year regarding the provincial pilot project for e-kick scooters, said Jamie Rose, city transportation manager.
“We have been part of the pilot project since its inception and the province did opt to extend the pilot project, but then this spring, triggered a requirement that participant municipalities must update their bylaws to allow for the e-kick scooters,” he said.
Council supported remaining part of the pilot project, which meant the city had to update its bylaws regarding the devices to continue with the project.
Rose said the regulations focus mainly on where e-kick scooters can be used and what personal protection equipment has to be worn to used them.
“We have completely followed the province’s guidance on this and we just integrated that into [the bylaw] with respect to the PPE and where these devices may or may not be used,” Rose said. “In the most simple terms, wherever a bike is permitted to operate, these would be allowed to operate within the City of Nanaimo.”
Sheila Gurrie, city director of legislative services, said the fines for micro-mobility device infractions are in keeping with other fines associated with the traffic and highways bylaw. The schedule of fines under the bylaw range from $75 to $200 for infractions that include operating a scooter while wearing headphones, failing to wear a helmet, going faster than 25 kilometres per hour, riding on sidewalks, failing to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk, operating a scooter recklessly, and other contraventions that also apply to bicycles and motor vehicles.
Both amended bylaws were adopted unanimously.
