What are E-Scooters?
Electric kick scooters, commonly known as e-scooters, are generally defined by Canadian provinces as vehicles that:
- Have two wheels
- Have handlebars and a standing platform
- Are powered by an electric motor
- Are designed for one rider
- Do not have pedals (which distinguishes them from e-bikes)
Rules vary across Canada, including where e-scooters can be ridden and parked, maximum speeds, helmet and age requirements, and whether shared or privately owned e-scooters are permitted. Some communities operate established shared micromobility programs, while others continue to regulate e-scooters through pilot programs or prohibit their use on public property.
Provincial/Territorial E-Scooter Regulations
Alberta – Privately owned e-scooters are banned; municipalities such as City of Edmonton and Calgary have rental programs.
British Columbia – Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project
Manitoba – Bill 43
Nova Scotia – Motor Vehicle Act Amendment
Ontario – Electric Kick Style E-Scooters
Quebec – Rules for using electric scooters
Prince Edward Island – Electric Kick Scooters
Saskatchewan – E-scooters
New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut do not currently have specific provincial/territorial regulations on e-scooters.
Accessibility and pedestrian safety
CNIB has advocated for safe and accessible approaches to e-scooters since shared programs first appeared in Canadian communities.
Through engagement with people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision, governments, e-scooter operators and disability organizations, CNIB continues to promote education, responsible riding, and policies that protect pedestrian safety and accessibility.
As e-scooter use has grown, CNIB continues to raise concerns about the safety and accessibility of pedestrian spaces for people who are blind, Deafblind or have low vision.
E-scooters can travel quickly and quietly, making them difficult for pedestrians to detect. Riding on sidewalks and other pedestrian-only spaces can create unexpected hazards and increase the risk of collisions.
Improperly parked e-scooters can also create significant accessibility barriers. E-scooters should never block sidewalks, curb ramps, accessible pedestrian signals, tactile walking surface indicators, transit stops, building entrances or other pedestrian routes.
CNIB's position
CNIB recognizes that e-scooters and other forms of micromobility are increasingly part of Canada's transportation system. Their use, however, must not come at the expense of pedestrian safety or accessibility.
CNIB encourages governments, municipalities and e-scooter operators to:
- Protect sidewalks and pedestrian-only spaces from e-scooter riding
- Provide designated parking that keeps pedestrian routes clear
- Strengthen rider education about accessibility and pedestrian safety
- Enforce rules related to unsafe riding and improper parking
- Provide accessible ways to report e-scooter barriers and incidents
- Consult people who are blind, Deafblind or have low vision when developing and reviewing e-scooter programs
- Consider accessibility and pedestrian safety when introducing new micromobility technologies
