SGI is seeking feedback from the public and other stakeholders about the possibility of regulating electric scooters on public roads in Saskatchewan.
Spokesman Tyler McMurchy says this comes after recent public discussion about where e-scooters are allowed to be used as well as the increasing prevalence of these devices.
McMurchy says anyone – from individuals to businesses to organizations – can weigh-in on the matter by email to autofundpartnershipsupport@sgi.sk.ca from now until November 1st.
“If they have any kind of opinions on how they might be regulated on what type of roads they should be operated on, if any, or maybe they think that they shouldn’t be allowed at all, that’s something as well at least as far as the public roads go,” McMurchy said.
SGI will gather the feedback for the remainder of this month before deciding whether to make any recommendations to the provincial government for legislative changes.
McMurchy says any decision to amend the Traffic Safety Act to legally allow e-scooters to operate on public roads would be up to the provincial government.
SGI notes in a news release “any legislative amendment would have to address issues regarding safety, particularly for on-road use, and consider factors like inexperienced drivers, speeds and equipment.”
Currently under the Traffic Safety Act, e-scooters are considered unlicensed motor vehicles, and are not allowed on public roads in the province with certain exceptions. Those exceptions include:
- power-assisted bicycles that meet federal standards, when ridden by someone 14 years of age or older, wearing an approved helmet;
- self-propelled farm implements being used for agricultural use;
- self-propelled industrial and construction machines; and,
- golf carts when operating under a municipal bylaw approved by SGI, when taking the most direct route to or from a municipal golf course on municipal roads.
However, the Act does not apply to municipal sidewalks or pathways – where municipalities can regulate them – or on private property.
An example of local regulation is in the City of Regina, where the City’s Traffic Bylaw states e-scooters are not allowed on public roads, sidewalks or public parks, and are limited to private property only, according to a June 17 tweet from the Regina Police Service, which sparked the public discussion referred to in the SGI news release.