E-scooter pilot program returns to Oshawa: safety rules and guidelines for riders

Ride-sharing e-scooters and e-bikes return to the City of Oshawa on August 5 as part of the shared e-mobility pilot project.

Community members are reminded to be courteous and follow these safety rules when using an e-bike or e-scooter in Oshawa:

• Riders must be 16 or older to use an e-scooter
• Helmets are mandatory for riders under 18 years old and encouraged for all riders
• Only one person can ride an e-scooter at a time
• The maximum speed limit is 20 km/hr
• For the safety of pedestrians, e-scooters are not allowed on sidewalks
• E-scooters are not permitted on roads with speed limits of more than 50 km/h
• Exercise caution around pedestrians
• Riders must give warning to pedestrians before passing by using a bell or through verbal indication
• Riders must park devices in a secure and upright position.

All Highway Traffic Act rules of the road apply while riding e-scooters, with penalties resulting in fines up to $2,500. For more information on safe cycling, visit the Ministry of Transportation’s webpage.

The City of Oshawa is one of several municipalities across Ontario participating in the Province’s e-scooter pilot program to help determine if e-scooters will be allowed permanently in Ontario.

Oshawa Council has extended the City’s shared e-mobility pilot program into 2027. Through a competitive bid process, Bird Canada was chosen as the sole vendor to provide the program at no cost to the City or to Oshawa taxpayers. The Province has recently extended the duration of its pilot for an additional 5 years, until 2029.

What’s new

The program comes back to Oshawa with some important updates. This season, there will be fewer devices and a smaller deployment area focused on the places where people use them most.

New designated parking spots and no-parking zones will help keep sidewalks clear, and vendors will be required to respond more quickly to issues. There will also be stronger rules about riding on sidewalks and better education for users, along with more staff to help keep everything running smoothly.

How to report a concern

Sidewalk riding, parking and other concerns related to ride sharing devices should be reported to Service Oshawa. To learn more, visit Oshawa.ca/emobility.

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