Ottawa police launch e-scooter safety blitz
Posted Aug 16, 2021 03:37:00 PM.
Riding an e-scooter on a sidewalk in Ottawa could result in a $150 fine, says the Ottawa Police Service (OPS).
Officers in the OPS' Traffic Unit are running an e-scooter safety blitz on Monday, August 16, to remind residents about the rules when riding the vehicles around city streets and pathways.
The OPS says e-scooters are expected to be driven the same way as a bicycle.
Although residents do not need a licence, insurance or registration, they must be at least 16 years old to operate an electric kick-scooter as well as an E-Bike.
When operating an e-bike, residents are expected to wear, at a minimum, a bicycle helmet. E-bikes are considered vehicles under the Criminal Code, which means they cannot be operated while impaired or by disqualified drivers.
E-scooters are to be operated in bike lanes or on road shoulders. Riders are not allowed to carry passengers or cargo. Police say if the operator is under 18 years old they must wear a bicycle helmet.
City of Ottawa Bylaws state that e-scooters are permitted on streets with speed limits of 50km/h or less. They are permitted in reserved bike lanes, cycle tracks and multi-use pathways, and are not permitted to be ridden on sidewalks.
