August 31, 2026
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Kincardine council has decided not to participate in the provincial E-scooter pilot project.
At the council meeting Wednesday night (Aug. 26), clerk Jennifer Lawrie brought forward a comprehensive report, offering two options: the municipality would maintain the current status outside the pilot project; or direct staff to bring forward a draft bylaw for the municipality to opt into the program, including best practices for safety, areas for use, annual reporting measures, enforcement, financial/operational considerations, education and communications, and accessibility.
In her report, Lawrie stated that the provincial pilot project began Jan. 1, 2020, and runs to Nov. 2029. It allows municipalities to opt into the program to set local bylaws that would allow E-scooter usage.
The pilot program sets out the requirements for riders, and what they are not permitted to do, and allows the municipalities to decide other parameters, such as where E-scooters may be operated, where they can park, insurance requirements, etc.
Regulation and enforcement of E-scooters is complex, states the report, because while on roadways, they are governed under the Highway Traffic Act which is enforced by the OPP. If the municipality were to create a bylaw, it would be enforced by local bylaw enforcement officers which is challenging as those officials lack the authority to stop moving E-scooters.
Lawrie states in the report that the majority of the participating municipalities are larger urban centres with their own police services and bylaw enforcement services. Many municipalities continue to prohibit E-scooters because of safety, accessibility, infrastructure suitability, and enforcement concerns.
Councillor Bill Stewart said there is no provincial framework for this program and the costs would be borne by the municipality so he would prefer to wait for now.
Councillor Amanda Steinhoff Gray agreed, saying there are a lot of injuries, particularly head and brain injuries, associated with E-scooters. "I'm not comfortable taking this on," she said. "I want to keep our community safe."
Lawrie said only people age 16 and older are allowed to ride E-scooters in the province's pilot program. "We do have information on the municipal website about guidelines for E-scooters."
Council agreed to maintain the current status outside of the pilot project and continue to provide the public with education about E-scooters.
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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