Toronto police to crack down on use of e-scooters, e-bikes

Nov 06, 2024

Micromobility devices such as electric kick scooters, skateboards, unicycles and hoverboards are not allowed on Toronto’s roads, according to a police news release.

Toronto police and Traffic Services have launched a campaign to raise awareness and enforce rules around micromobility devices such as e-bikes and e-scooters.

A total of 16 people have been killed or seriously injured while using a micromobility vehicle such as an e-scooter, bike or skateboard, so far this year, according to Toronto police.

These incidents are part of the reason why officers will be raising awareness and enforcing rules on the use of micromobility vehicles on the city’s roads as part of a two-week “safe rides, safe streets,” campaign.

“Toronto has seen an increase in various forms of electric vehicles, including e-bikes, electric kick scooters and electric one-wheeled devices,” police said in a news release Monday.

The enforcement campaign, which Toronto police said is meant to raise public awareness and enhance the safety of all road users, began on Nov. 4 and will end on Nov. 17.

According to the release, electric kick scooters, skateboards, unicycles and hoverboards are not allowed to be operated on Toronto’s roads.

During the campaign, police said Traffic Services officers will be educating members of the public and enforcing the Highway Traffic Act along with the City of Toronto’s bylaws applying to micromobility vehicles, with a focus on “unsafe behaviours.”

Despite e-scooters popping up in multiple municipalities in recent years, Toronto council voted unanimously to opt out of the province’s pilot to roll them out in 2021.

A news release on the decision said council agreed with a report that found “significant accessibility barriers,” and issues surrounding “safety, enforcement, insurance and liability,” when it came to the use of both rental and privately owned e-scooters.

According to the City of Toronto’s website, e-scooters, also known as standing electric kick-scooters, are not allowed to be “operated, left, stored or parked,” on any public street including, bike lanes or cycle tracks, trails, paths, sidewalks or parks.

“We need to enforce the law, absolutely,” Mayor Olivia Chow said about micromobility vehicles. “The numbers of deaths and injuries of people riding them and people that are being hurt is unacceptable.”

“We need to keep everybody safe, ” said Chow.

People with disabilities have been advocating “tenaciously” against allowing e-scooters on streets and in public spaces in Toronto and Ontario for the past five years, David Lepofsky, chair of the AODA Alliance, told the Star.

“They’re a silent menace for people like me,” said Lepofsky, who is blind.

Lepofsky is glad the city voted to prohibit e-scooters, which he said pose risks for people who are blind, seniors and people with mobility issues, because of their speed and how quiet they can be, among other factors.

“Riding e-scooters in Toronto is not legal,” he said. “It’s not just if you don’t wear a helmet of if you ride too fast. It’s just not legal.”

Despite being prohibited, “what our problem is,” said Lepofsky, “is if you go out on the street, you’re going to see scooters in Toronto all over the place,” which he believes comes from a lack of enforcement.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if there are people riding e-scooters who don’t have a clue that they’re not allowed,” he added.

In Lepofsky and the AODA Alliance’s perspective, it’s good that Toronto police are taking steps to raise awareness about rules on micromobility vehicles. But unless they focus on enforcing the fact that most, including e-scooters, are not allowed on the city’s roads, people with disabilities will be left “endangered,” he said.

Serena Austin is a Toronto-based general assignment reporter atthe Star. Reach her via email: [email protected]

To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.

Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation