Council approves electric kick scooter pilot project

City Council has approved the personal use of privately-owned electric kick scooters throughout Vancouver on minor streets (without lane lines or directional dividing lines) and protected bike lanes as part of a provincially led pilot program.

People using electric kick scooters must follow the same rules as cyclists and be at least 16 years old. Eligible scooters must meet provincial requirements, including being limited to speeds below 24km/h. A driver’s licence and insurance are not required. Rentals and shared programs are not part of the pilot at this time but may be considered in the future once safety, accessibility and other considerations are better understood.

Vancouver is one of six cities across B.C. to be part of the program to research, test and evaluate the safety and operation of electric kick scooters and the pilot is expected to run until April 5, 2024 if successful.

"Public safety is a priority in delivering this pilot," said Mayor Kennedy Stewart. "As the use of electric devices becomes even more widespread, it’s important for us to better understand these emerging sustainable modes of transportation."

Riders will be prohibited from operating on sidewalks, the seawall and major streets, consistent with our current by-law, which only allows the use of non-motorized devices in these areas.